The Mexican Bo Jackson
By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / President of the WBC
Last Saturday there was an unbelievable event, the AT&T Dallas Cowboys stadium full to capacity, to undertake the long-awaited return of sports fans after a year of anguish and uncertainty caused by COVID-19, which had the sports world completely shut down for several months, then events happening without fans, then limited fans had access to events. The MLB World Series, the NFL Super Bowl, FIFA Champions League, and most major events had limited fans in attendance. But this past Saturday, May 8, will be remembered as the first-ever major event which brought the 73,126 fans in the stadium and millions watching on DAZN and television around the world to celebrate life through boxing and a night which will be forever remembered.
The very loud crowd witnessed a superb demonstration of their hero, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez who is, without a doubt, the best fighter in the world today, the pound-per-pound king.
A unique, electrifying atmosphere, the traditional wave, created by fans; the spectacular entrance, with the act of Pepe Aguilar and his daughter, and the explosion of joy with the spectacular knockout, after an eighth round which resulted in a brutal demonstration of pure power and dominance, and Billie Joe Saunders must be praised for his bravery as he stood there trying to win the fight with courage. Canelo crushed his English opponent and is one step away from achieving his goal of unifying the super middleweight division titles.
One of the questions that commonly circulates among media and experts is where Saúl Álvarez stands within the lists of the best in history. For this, it is necessary to study some of considerations that allow us to have a more solid analysis of the subject and not only be based on individual appreciation or favoritism.
There are several criteria to evaluate with facts and numbers:
* Record: Obviously gives a visual overview of a career; El Canelo has a record of 56 wins, one loss, two draws, with 38 KOs; even though there are at least five fights that are not considered in his official record for some unknown reasons.
* Championships won: Saúl conquered a variety of affiliate titles to the WBC from an early age. He won the WBC Youth World Title, the NABF and the Silver Super Welterweight title, as well as the following world championships:
WEIGHT
WBC Super welter with 6 title defenses
WBA Super welter
WBC Middleweight, against Miguel Cotto
WBC Middleweight against Gennady Golovkin
WBA Middleweight
IBF Middleweight
WBC Super Middleweight, against Callum Smith
WBA Super Middleweight
WBO Super Middleweight
WBO Light Heavyweight
* Number of world championship fights: he has to this day is 20.
* Level of opposition: The quality of the opponents he has faced is a prominent factor, and a significant number of world champions appear on the list.
Saul has faced 19 world champions. Among them are: Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, Amir Khan, Austin Trout, Erislandy Lara, Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, Julio César Chávez Jr., Rocky Fielding, Billy Joe Saunders, and his only defeat to date was eight years ago, when he faced Floyd Mayweather Jr.
* Years of fighting at high levels of importance and competition, he has already a decade established as an elite boxer.
* Popularity: His fan base is massive, and he has the worldwide recognition of being the best pound-for-pound of the moment.
Saúl Canelo Álvarez continues to build his legacy, and he still has several years to accumulate more triumphs, so that the day he ends his career in the ring, his place in the history of Mexican and world boxing can be determined.
DID YOU KNOW…?
El Canelo is a great athlete who excels in various sporting spheres. Apart from his greatness as a boxer, he is a talented and accomplished horseman.
He is obsessed with golf, reaching high levels, and even considering a professional career in the sport. He plays soccer and baseball very well; in short, it can be considered that he is the MEXICAN BO JACKSON, Canelo knows Canelo.
TODAY’S ANECDOTE
The Dallas Cowboys Stadium was inaugurated capturing worldwide attention due to its spectacularism, its majestic screen and the significance of being the home of one of the most important teams in the world of sports.
When Antonio Margarito fought Manny Pacquiao, I was lucky enough to accompany my dad to the press conference right there at the stadium.
While sitting on the podium, some of the famous cheerleaders, “The Cowgirls,” suddenly made their appearance on stage. Obviously, I looked at them and with great surprise to see that one of them smiled at me. To my regret, my dear father, Don José clarified to me: “Oh my son, don’t get excited, they have by contract the obligation to smile at all times.”
I appreciate your comments at [email protected].
Must be a nice job to clip the ticket each time a boxer climbs into the ring to fight for a worthless belt. I cannot believe the boxing community still tolerates this family business.
Not gonna complain anymore but Canelo did look superb! Wouldn’t be surprised if Canelo moves up to Cruiser before he retires
Love it Arturo. I believe he will fight everyone he needs to. He can’t fight everyone or please everyone. But I believe he’s going to cement himself as a top ten all-time great.
Yeah he’s a good fighter alright, I’m not his biggest fan, but to be fair I’m not sure there’s anyone out there at MW/SMW who beats him at the moment.
Can only see a huge puncher, or boxer ala Mayweathers style beating him…but don’t see anyone like that about.
Beterbiev do your homework watch his you tube videos.
He’s a LHW, I said MW/SMW
do your homework.
But, yes agree Beterbiev looks like a beast, but he’s mid 30s now and Canelo won’t be jumping to fight him anytime soon.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a huge Canelo fan, but I’m starting to become a believer, despite his controversial Mexican meat history.
You just became a fan. And because Canelo earned your appreciation. The very fact that no one is likely to beat him any time soon, in 2 weight divisions, says it all. The best of his time. And time will tell – perhaps even more.
That means more steroids
He lost against GGG!!! Period
Both fights were close, had GGG in the first and Canelo in the rematch, but to be fair there wasn’t a lot in it on either fight.
I did think Canelo, or maybe it was Oscar, delayed fighting GGG for a couple of years tho, he was on the slide by the time they met.
You have a point on the first one. But if you know how to score he won the 2nd. Had him losing the first 117-111. He win the second 115-113
This will be my last comment, sort of good bye, because I am alergic to those that live a comfortable life at the expenses of the blood, sweet, pain and even death of the ones that have chosen the sport of boxing as a way of life and unfortunately I can see them too frequently in this website. By folks
But you’re a fightnews franchise champion?!?! :0
Good bye Mike, all the best
Hes the best in the game right now. So enjoying the Canelo haters pouting right now.
Canelo is probably the best fighter P4P but comparing him to Bo Jackson makes no sense. Jackson was elite in two sports until his devastating hip injury.
never really appealed to me , BUT this guy improves in every fight
Let be honest canelo is a good fighter no t a great one yet he is smart he fought mosley GGG COTTO ALL of them past their prime..and we can argue that he lost to GGG.AND COTTO….Lost TO LARA and after that he run away from elite fighters on his way class to purse others title on other way class fighting past prime champ at 175 and class c opposition at 168..cause 168 is like blind land where the one eye man will be King….Arguello lost to pryor he could has won the 4th tittle fighting the easy champ..but he want to do it fighting the best the elite.something that canelo will never do he want to make history the most easy way…..he is lying to himself
The GGG fiasco was created and manipulated by Oscar De La Hoya in my opinion because Oscar wasn’t confident of Canelo winning against GGG and feared his cash cow losing his values. Canelo said in the interview that he’d fight anyone, but when he fights the elite fighters like Floyd or GGG, he just wanted to be paid fairly, not run away from those fights. I don’t think it was Canelo cherry picking his opponents. I have a feeling that he’d fight anyone at any time if the compensation was there for him. Oscar almost ruined a popular fighter’s image and popularity. Canelo is better off without Oscar. Oscar said in the Triller PPV that he’s coming back to fight the best fighters. Maybe he can fight GGG at MW & fight Canelo at 168 for his come back if he so wishes to fight the top dogs.
What are you talking about? Canelo will get paid tons and tons of dough if he fought you or I!
Canelo is a future Hall of Famer, and he is the market in the current boxing world. Canelo will take care of Plant to unify 168. However, I really need to see Canelo fight Benavidez at 168 (2022) before he probably chases fighters at 175.
Let’s hope Benavidez can make 168 in 2022. If Canelo defeats Benavidez at 168, then Canelo will further confirm his greatness in boxing history.
Don’t let the red hair fool ya because that MF can fight (paraphrasing Ann Wolfe).
I don’t think Benavidez deserves a shot after losing his title 2x because of weight/discipline issues and opposition. But the fact is Canelo, will need to find fighters that make any sense in 2022. So Benavidez will be on the menu. And hey, he is the top fighter, pushing this amazing sport – and with all on the line will have 4 fights this year.. Who else on his level would risk 4 fights in a year.
I like the way the press keeps calling Saunders condition an injury as if he broke his hand or tore a rotor cup. In reality he got smashed in the face by a boxer’s punch and quit in the corner. No shame, unless you have previously suggested that this is some form of cowardice and would never happened to him.
A very cocky statement from a man that couldn’t back it up. Show some humility and you may receive some compassion!
Do people really care what the boxing mafia sanctioning bodies have to say?
Thought you learned to have comments closed on your drivel
What a total dipshit, Bo Jackson played two sports PROFESIONALLY at a high level. There’s no comparison to be made here. Mauricio the leech will go to great extremes to remain friendly with Canelo, pathetic.
What kind of rag allows this guy to write for them…How is this not a conflict of interest…?