Canelo Alvarez is fighting on Saturday night for the first time since suffering his lone career defeat, a majority decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last September.
Though Alvarez probably does not regret taking the fight thanks to the $5 million he earned (at minimum), he was totally outclassed in the bout and did suffer some professional embarrassment. Now it sounds like his team is partly to blame for setting up him with such a bad gameplan for a tough match-up.
The Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire wrote on Friday that Canelo’s team expected Floyd to engage in more toe-to-toe combat. Apparently they missed the 45-0 boxer’s previous 45 fights.
From Pugmire:
Alvarez co-trainer Eddy Reynoso said Team Alvarez believed Mayweather would be more willing to engage in toe-to-toe fighting like he did against Miguel Cotto, allowing Alvarez to find an opening for a damaging succession of punches.
“Floyd stepped toe-to-toe with Saul three times, felt his punch and never did it again,” Reynoso said. “Floyd did what Floyd does — move around, stick a jab, pull a ‘W.’ The only thing Saul lacked is experience.
Uhhh this strikes me as a little incomprehensible. How can you know anything about Floyd Mayweather and not know that the guy likes to avoid being hit and just pick his opponents apart? The only time he really engaged the way they’re describing was in his win over Miguel Cotto, but that was mostly because Cotto forced that.
Did they think Floyd would stand and punch in an effort to excite the fans? Floyd might do that here or there, but not consistently. You don’t get to 45-0 without being protective of your legacy every time you’re in the ring.
What a bunch of fools.
