Donny Lalonde picks the Canelo-Kovalev winner

By Robert Coster

Former WBC light heavyweight champion Donny Lalonde knows a thing or two about fighting a smaller boxing star coming up in weight. On July 11, 1988, Lalonde defended his title in an epic battle with Hall of Famer “Sugar Ray” Leonard. Lalonde was the bigger, taller (6’2 to 5’9) and naturally heavier boxer, an obvious parallel with Saturday’s battle between a good big man (Kovalev) and a good smaller man (Canelo). In view of the similarities between both fights, Fightnews.com® contacted Lalonde who currently lives in Costa Rica,

Champ, what parallel do you see in the upcoming fight and your war with Ray Leonard?

Canelo has to move up while Kovalev will be fighting at his weight. My fight with Ray Leonard was for two titles, the super-middleweight and light heavyweight titles. I had to go down to a catchweight of 168lbs. I knocked Ray down, but by the fifth round I was drained.

So, in this fight will size and weight be an advantage for Kovalev?

Yes, Kovalev has size and weight but is that good or bad? If Canelo fights the right way, he will have speed and mobility in his favor. The big question is will Alvarez use his speed and mobility better than Kovalez will use his size?

So, in your book who wins?

I think that Alvarez was very smart in picking Kovalev and not any of the other “champions.” Kovalev has lost already and gotten somewhat used to it but Canelo is not ready to look at that yet. I pick Canelo by stoppage.

Champ, are you still involved in boxing?

I was training and managing Malik Zinad but no longer am. I had been helping kids in Malta, but now that we are back in Costa Rica I am not officially working with anyone. When I complete the things I’m doing here, I imagine I’ll get back into training and advising kids in the game. I am presently working on a book, a TV series/movie and a boxing platform.

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  • I respect Lalonde’s assessment of the fight. He is spot-on basically admitting Kovalev was cherry-picked for Canelo. Oscar knows how to “cash cow” his fighters in selecting beatable opponents with thousands of stipulations on contracts so the rematches generate more “dead presidents” to line the pockets of the promoters and keep the chain going. Hopkins learned the same tactic when he was champ as well.

  • Donny didn’t fight sugar ray in 1997, they fought in 1988. Sugars last fight was in 1997 a KO defeat to Hector Camacho

  • I’ve already said enough about Canelo and how the judges are on his side so I will not say anything further today about this fight. I do however want to say that I got to see Lalonde vs Bobby Czyz back in 1992 at The Riviera Hotel. Classy and humble guy he is…

    • Most of it has been not accurate. Please Notice how Lalonde didn’t mention anything about the refs being on Canelo’s side. Also it is smart to fight Kovalev because that fight sells more than any of the other Champs. He is more well known and been a reigning champ longer in his career. Basically he still has claim being the best in the division. With him being the number 1 before Ward fights and Ward leaving, he picked up a strap and avenged the only other fighter to beat him. If Kovalev wins by a close decision I hope you hold yourself accountable for your words.

  • Lalonde defines class. When you think about it, having the lightheavyweight title on the line when the champion is prevented from weighing at the limits of his weight class is absurd. This is an idea that would only be approved by a blood-sucking sanctioning body to collect their blood money.

    • Lalonde is a Pos Con man who robbed investors out of millions in his real estate scams

  • Lalonde is probably correct about who will win. One thing though. Canelo is no Sugar Ray Leonard. If Kovalev is more durable than he expects it could be a long night for Canelo.

    • Ray Leaonard was a cokehead shadow of himself so he needed the catch weight to beat the one dimensional Lalonde. Canelo is in his prime, roided and muscle bound. If Canelo keeps some movement with added weight to stay away from harm in the early rounds he is golden and will get an easy KO after 6 rounds.

      • First of all the 168 weight class was being introduced in the fight. Second Canelo got to dig deep to get a ko that early. And its Leonard(spell check)

  • Donny – the original Golden Boy – had an unusual career with 2 long lay off’s: he sat out 8 of his 17 years as a pro, which killed his rhythm quite a bit.

    The TKO loss to Sugar Ray was in ’88. He should have never agreed to a catch weight fight.

    Cool guy but made many poor business decisions later on in life and lost everything he earned as a boxer. I am glad to see that he is training a good prospect now (Zinad) and I hope that he can overcome his economic struggles.

  • You also have to look at Krushers losses, first fight against Ward was debatable, 2nd fight was clearly a loss. The loss against Alvarez was a fight he was clearly winning until he got caught. I am staying on the sidelines on this one.

    • Ward showed the formula for beating Kovalev regardless of 1st fight decision. Alvarez was never in trouble in both fights but is a very passive fighter for that high level. Kovalev was punched out and gassed in 1st fight but Buddy McGirt is doing a great job as a trainer, keeping Kovalev from gassing or taking too many body shots. That Kovalev was able to pull the late KO over Yarde despite being out on his feet in 8th round was a shocker.

      • Good points, Dovid!

        I think Eleider is generally a bit underrated – most forget that he still has only one loss.

        Although its a fact that Ward struggled in his first fight against Kovalev, he had him completely figured out in the second. I didn’t like the rough house tactics Ward used, but at the same time one has to acknowledge his high ring IQ in general.

        I fully agree with David: McGirt may have saved Kovalev’s career. The KO win over Yarde was a miracle that McGirt should get a lot of credit for.

        Its a shame that Kovalev never had much discipline. Even when he was the Krusher, he had a lose lifestyle (too much alc, etc.) that prevented him from reaching his full potential and stay on top a bit longer.

  • If Kovalev makes faces when Canelo hits him to the body. Alvarez wins easy. If he manages to clock Canelo a time or two and it makes him timid. Kovalev wins a squeaker on the cards or a draw

    • Yet he robbed investors out of millions and their life savings. Yes class act all the way.

    • What’s up Bronco! Dam them it’s your opinion how you fill about someone so Shawn can go do damage somewhere else. Those investors probably deserved it because their crooks, who knows.

  • Oh my god!!! Donny even thinks Canelo cherry picked Kovalev!! What a “HATER!!!” He must not “know shit about boxing!!!”

  • The news in this story is that somebody recognized Lalonde and asked him to comment…..

  • Gentleman, everyone is seeming to forget some 6 yrs ago Canello pulled this same move, that is to upstage an Old 36 yr old fighter in Mayweather much to his surprise
    Floyd taught him a lesson. Ironically now Canello & team are trying to do the same thing..take 2 Giant steps forward and upstage an aging Warrior in Sergey, who by the way is 36.
    Definitely this is a gutsy play but definitely would of gotten a lot more respect if taken when Sergey was closer to 30 instead of 40.

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