At 34, Canelo Alvarez remains one of the top fighters in the world after reclaiming his undisputed champion status. However, recent performances have raised questions about his direction in the sport.
Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is under scrutiny for opting not to contest two-time champion David Benavidez, and this has sparked criticism around his performance against William Scull.
The fight on May 3 was his debut in Saudi Arabia, and although Alvarez was favored heavily, the bout became noteworthy for the wrong reasons. Scull’s evasive tactics left Alvarez frustrated and ineffective in offensive strategies.
Not only was the bout noteworthy for its lack of engagement, but it also broke records for the lowest combined punches thrown in a title fight, creating further concern about Alvarez’s current form.
As Alvarez prepares for a high-stakes clash against Terence Crawford, it’s evident that while titles may be secure, opinions about his performance and willingness to engage with challenging opponents have drastically shifted.
Pound-for-Pound Rankings:
- Oleksandr Usyk - Undisputed heavyweight champion (23-0, 14 KOs)
- Naoya Inoue - Undisputed junior featherweight champion (27-0, 25 KOs)
- Dmitry Bivol - Undisputed light heavyweight champion (24-1, 12 KOs)
- Terence Crawford - WBA junior middleweight champion (40-0, 29 KOs)
- Artur Beterbiev - Light heavyweight champion (21-1, 20 KOs)
- Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez - Flyweight, junior bantamweight titleholder (20-0, 13 KOs)
- Canelo Alvarez - Unified super middleweight champion (62-2-2, 38 KOs)
- David Benavidez - Interim light heavyweight titleholder (29-0, 24 KOs)
- Junto Nakatani - WBC bantamweight champion (30-0, 23 KOs)
- Gervonta Davis - WBA lightweight champion (30-0-1, 28 KOs)
