In-Depth Boxing Comparison Between Canelo Alvarez versus Billy Joe Saunders

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The most awaited clash in the boxing community this coming May 8th is pegged with enthusiasm, excitement and anxiety among the fans and bettors between the Saul Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders.

Mexico vs The UK

Two boxing elites in their prime are going to meet in the ring, with each vastly different fighting styles certainly will be intriguing for the boxing purists.

In my view, Canelo Alvarez is the tough guy who has fought different fighters in multiple weight classes, from Welterweight to 175 pound Light Heavyweight Divisions.

Canelo has faced every other styles in 4 weight classes fighters like Carlos Manuel Baldomir, Lovemore Ndou, Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, Gennadiy Golovkin, and the master boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

At the current age of 30, Alvarez has fought at least 3 future hall-of-famers in the names of Mosely, Cotto, and Mayweather and had accomplished all the wins except of course for his lone defeat from the skillful fists of Floyd Mayweather. Those are the type of fighters he had fought and amazingly enough he is still searching for that toughest fight to add to the list of his legacy.

Who would have thought Canelo was going to knock out the 6-footer hard hitter Sergey Kovalev at 175 pounds. Although that clash had a weight clause limit in the contract mandated on the night of the fight.

In December of 2020, Canelo put a dent in Callum Smith's arm and looked as though the muscle had teared up. Alvarez won a unanimous decision in that fight.

On the other hand, Billy Joe Saunders is a natural super middleweight, a slick awkward southpaw, has got a long range, a nice jab. He has fought the likes of Martin Murray, David Lemieux, Andy Lee, Chris Eubank Jr, and John Ryder.

"I just reach for win, that goes all in my mind..." -Billy Joe Saunders on fight versus Alvarez

As i followed Saunders' previous fights he seems to be 'untouchable' to his opponents. Saunders is considered to be an elite and world class fighter. His fight with Canadain David Lemieux was a superb performance of his skills and ring generalship. Lemieux was hitting air round by round because of Saunders' head movements and fast footwork.

Both of his fights with Eubank Jr and Andy Lee were grueling fights were he got hit many times unlike to his previous opponents, but nonetheless pulled it off for the win.

"he doesn't move like me, he's not fast as me, he is not slick like me, he is not beautiful like me..." -Saunders

I have witnessed the 'metamorphosis' of Canelo's boxing ability after he had fought Mayweather in 2013. Alvarez transcended to a higher level very visibly when he fought Erislandy Lara and Alfredo Angulo in 2014. Those defensive skills, upper body movement and patience in the ring were the true signs he has improved by a large margin.

In a recent interview ahead of the upcoming fight Alvarez said:

"It will be a knock out..."

How I Compare Between 2 Boxers?

For me, when I choose and bet on a fighter here are the criteria I will be focusing on:

Number of Fights - I research on his amateur and pro fights;
Track Record/Experience - the quality of opponents a boxer had fought;
Footwork - the faster feet has the advantage;
Ring IQ - how a fighter adapts to his opponents, and sets traps;
Jab - the most accurate and stiff jab controls the fight;
Cardio - a 12-round fighter is more patient than a 6-rounder;
Punch Resistance & Chin - tough chin ensures you last to 12 rounds;
Hand Speed - this is very important especially if an opponent is a come-forward fighter, though a good timing negates it;
Defense - most important of all I believe.
Punch Accuracy - judges tends to lean on clean punches than rappid hits

Below I pin-point which fighter, in my view, got the best criteria:

Number of Fights - Alvarez
Track Record/Experience - Alvarez
Footwork - Saunders
Ring IQ - Alvarez
Jab - Alvarez
Cardio - Even
Punch Resistance & Chin - Alvarez
Hand Speed - Saunders
Defense - Alvarez
Punch Accuracy - Alvarez

To me Canelo Alvarez gets the 6 attributes above. And how about the power? It is so obvious who's the got power, though.

Tale Of The Tape

Conclusion

I see the same pattern for both fighters as I followed their boxing history. Saunders is coursing the same path as Canelo does, both are fighting quality and skilled oppositions as they progress in their carreers, but the ONLY difference is, Canelo is way ahead of the road, thus the better resume.

And what does that mean? It means Canelo Alvarez has the most experience, in other words he's got more tricks under his sleeves. But still anything can happen in a boxing match.

I can see this as a very good fight, a tactical fight, a show of ring IQ.

How about you, who do you got?



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