Boxing makes a triumphant return with Canelo-Saunders

By Cesar Portillo

ARLINGTON, Texas — For greater than 14 months, the COVID-19 pandemic knocked down sports activities all around the globe, together with the US.

On Sunday, boxing fought again and KO’d the coronavirus with a crowd of 73,126 in attendance for the super-middle weight title unification bout between Mexican famous person Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders of Hatfield, England.

The gathering on the AT&T Heart broke the earlier document of attendance in an indoor boxing occasion that was set in September 1978 when Muhammad Ali fought in a rematch with Leon Spinks at The Superdome in New Orleans.

On March 2, Governor Greg Abbott signed an Government Order (GA-34) that lifted the masks mandate and opened Texas one hundred pc. In most states of the union, sports activities arenas have allowed followers to enter solely on a restricted capability. In Chicago, as an illustration, the Bulls solely bought 16 p.c of the 20,917 seats on the United Heart when the Celtics visited two days in the past.

Alvarez, who pulled in a reported $35 million payday to stake his WBC and WBA belts, placed on a present of dominance, touchdown 39 physique punches that ultimately slowed down Saunders, who additionally absorbed 58 energy punches.

A giant proper hand by Canelo late within the eighth spherical closed Saunders’ proper eye shut. It compelled the courageous Brit’s nook to wave off the battle for the anti-climactic end.

“I feel he (Saunders) went again to the nook and mentioned to (coach) Mark Tibbs he simply cannot see. They thought of having one other spherical and Billy mentioned he could not see. Mark pulled him out,” promoter Eddie Hearn advised Boxing Social to clarify the collection of occasions that led to the top.

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On the time of the stoppage, Alvarez was main on all scorecards, 78-74 (twice) and 77-75.

It was the primary defeat for the 31-year outdated Saunders. He misplaced his WBO crown and his document dropped to 30-1 with 14 KOs.

Alvarez, in the meantime, improved to 56-1-2 with 38 KOs. The 30-year outdated redhead is now setting his sights on Caleb Plant who holds the IBF model of the 168-pound diadem. Plant is the one hindrance to Canelo’s quest of ruling the division because the undisputed king.

TEA WITH MANNY. After the official weigh-in, which was held a day earlier than the battle, Saunders spoke to Spin.ph and revealed that Manny Pacquiao has been his position mannequin.

“Manny Pacquiao is my inspiration, the explanation why I like boxing. I really like his fashion and I truly love to satisfy him at some point and have a cup of tea. You are a Christian man like myself, God bless you and God bless all of the Filipinos.”

Saunders additionally gave a shoutout to his Filipino followers.

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