After amassing an undefeated record of 42-0-1, with 30
Knockouts and scoring six successful title defenses of the WBC World Jr.
Middleweight championship Saul “Canelo” Alvarez had clearly established himself
as a star of the sport of Boxing.
Alvarez’ impressive resume earned him the opportunity to square off
against pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather in a unification clash in
September of last year.
The fight, which set live gate and pay-per-view records was
a testament not only to Mayweather’s stature in the sport, but perhaps more
importantly the rise of Saul Alvarez, the man who many believe is the future of
the sport. In that fight Mayweather and
Alvarez engaged in a tactical battle that saw Mayweather score a lopsided
decision victory in the eyes of most fans and experts alike. The encounter between the two however, will
perhaps be remembered more for the mild controversy that emerged from judge
C.J. Ross’ scorecard as she scored the fight a draw, despite consensus opinion
of a clear victory for Mayweather.
Regardless of that controversy, the Mayweather-Alvarez
showdown was an overall victory for the sport. Although Alvarez suffered the
first defeat in his career at the hands of Mayweather there were also positives
that came out of the fight for the twenty-three year old former world
champion.
Outpointed by Mayweather, Alvarez did hold his own in the
fight and was not in any way disgraced. Alvarez may have made a strategic error
by electing to fight Mayweather at a tactical pace. The loss however, may have
done more to benefit Alvarez in the long-term as it will give him the
opportunity to improve. In addition to the positives that may come from losing
to Mayweather, the notoriety from that fight will do more from a business
standpoint as it solidified Alvarez’ status as a star in the sport.
Under circumstances where a star fighter suffers their first
loss it is reasonable to assume that a fighter would be put in with someone
soft in their first fight coming off a loss. Alvarez however, would opt to take
on a dangerous opponent in the form of top Jr. Middleweight contender Alfredo
Angulo on March 8th in Las Vegas.
Angulo, who entered the fight with a record of 22-3, with 18
knockouts had earned a reputation as not only being perhaps the hardest puncher
in the Jr. Middleweight division, but also one of the sport’s most gallant
warriors with a career knockout percentage of nearly 70%. There may have been
some opinion heading into this fight that Angulo was an opponent that was
hand-picked based on style with the design to get Alvarez back in the win
column.
Even when such circumstances would seem to favor Alvarez to
fight someone not as dangerous and perhaps lesser-known to the general public
for his first fight back, Alvarez showing the fighter that he is went the other
way and chose an opponent that if he was not on his game would capitalize on
any mistakes. Make no mistake about it this was a dangerous fight for Saul
Alvarez.
Angulo came into this fight off of a loss to top contender
Erislandy Lara in June of last year. Angulo dropped Lara in rounds four and
nine of that fight and, despite being stopped in the tenth round proved that he
was a force to be reckoned with and not someone to take lightly.
Stylistically this fight had action written all over it.
Although Alvarez lost to Floyd Mayweather convincingly in the eyes of many, he
was not damaged physically in that fight. This fight in contrast, would be
different as Alvarez would not be going up against a pure boxer as Mayweather
is. Alvarez would face a fighter who would come right at him and would be there
willing to engage for however long the fight would last.
When the two fighters got into the ring the difference in
hand speed was immediately apparent. Alvarez set the tempo of the fight
throwing combinations to the head and body and consistently backing Angulo up.
Although he was at a disadvantage in terms of hand speed, Angulo remained
always “Game” and willing to engage with Alvarez in trying to return offense.
In short, Alvarez was the fighter who was able to get off
first more consistently throughout this fight and in addition to being quicker
with his offense, he was landing not only power punches, but consistently
throwing those punches in combination and varying his attack. As the rounds
went on the effects of the punishment dished out by Alvarez gradually became
visible on Angulo’s face.
Angulo did however, have his moments periodically during
this fight. He never stopped coming forward looking to turn the momentum in his
favor, but he could not seem to get leverage on his punches consistently and
could not discourage Alvarez from throwing punches. It was clear that Alvarez
had more steam to his punches, but the question in my mind was whether or not
he could maintain that pace if the fight went into the later rounds.
Gradually Angulo’s eyes began to swell under Alvarez’
offense. Angulo’s best moments in this fight in my opinion were the periodic
moments where he was able to get off first and moments where he was able to
briefly get Alvarez on the defensive. Angulo however, could not cut off the
ring and that along with solid defense by Alvarez seemed to quell any offensive
rhythm Angulo had. As the fight went on in addition to the question that I had
with regard to whether Alvarez could maintain his pace, another question became
clear. Would this fight be allowed to go into the later rounds due to the
amount of punishment Alfredo Angulo was taking?
The highlight of the fight in my mind came in round eight
where both fighters were able to have their moments and were willing to stand
and trade. Alvarez however, maintained his momentum as he remained solid
defensively and got the upper hand in exchanges.
Frankly as the fight went on I wondered how much more
punishment Alfredo Angulo would be allowed to take. Angulo fought his heart out
in this fight, but it was clear in my eyes from round six on that unless Angulo
were able to land something dramatic that would turn things around in his
favor, what would happen would amount to simply one man taking far too much
punishment for his own good.
The end of the fight would come in round ten when Referee
Tony Weeks stopped the fight after Angulo’s head was snapped back by a left
uppercut from Alvarez forty-seven seconds into the round. An impressive
performance by a fighter in Alvarez who has yet to reach his physical prime.
Alvarez’ performance and where he goes from here however, is not the story that
came out of this fight. No one can take anything away from the heart Alfredo
Angulo showed in this fight. In the opinion of this observer however, the
beating Angulo suffered throughout this fight was such that it could not only
have an effect on his career, but more importantly could have long-term effects
on his health.
The stoppage of this
fight was met with outrage from the crowd in attendance and Angulo himself. The
stoppage in this observer’s eyes was appropriate. There have been many
tragedies throughout the history of Boxing with a commonality that perhaps such
tragedies may have been avoided had a fight been stopped earlier. Tragedies
such as fatalities and fighters suffering permanent medical problems as a
result of taking too much punishment in the ring sadly is a reality of the
sport.
Following the fight I commented on Twitter that Referee Tony
Weeks should be given credit for doing his job. Although some fans may feel
that the stoppage was premature, a referee’s primary objective other than to
make sure rules and regulations are followed, above all is to protect the safety
and well-being of the fighters who are competing in the ring. With all due
respect to fans who may feel that the fight was stopped prematurely and who
believe should have seen a more definitive ending to this fight, referees are
not supposed to let fights go on for the sake of the entertainment value it
might bring the audience.
Many will remember the story of Heavyweight Magomed
Abdusalamov who collapsed shortly after his bout with Mike Perez last November
in Madison Square Garden. Abdusalamov suffered a severe brain injury, which led
to him being placed in a medically induced coma and suffering a stroke.
It was recently reported by various media outlets that the
Abdusalamov family has filed documents stating the intent to sue the state of
New York and the New York State Athletic Commission claiming negligence and medical malpractice.
My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Magomed
Abdusalamov and his family. What will come out of the litigation in regard to
what happened in that fight and the subsequent tragedy that followed remains to
be seen.
An argument should be made that it is better for a referee
to exercise his or her judgment and potentially risk stopping a fight early,
choosing to err on the side of caution rather than allowing a fighter to take
one punch too many. The potential for injury and tragic circumstances is
something that will remain an issue for the sport.
Therefore, I find it impossible to point the finger of blame
in the direction of a referee for doing his job. A statistical scenario as
evidence of why this fight should have been stopped is demonstrated in the
final CompuBox statistics in Alvarez landing 295 of 513 total punches to
Angulo’s 104 of 770 at the time of the stoppage. A difference of 191 punches
landed.
Although I am of the opinion that the stoppage of this fight
was appropriate and give high praise to Referee Tony Weeks for preventing
Angulo from taking further punishment, for those who feel the stoppage was
premature, in closing I am compelled to
ask this question. Had the fight been allowed to continue and if Angulo were to
have suffered effects from the punishment he took throughout this fight after
the fight, would those who felt the stoppage was premature be saying that the
fight should have been stopped?
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
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