Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, right, applies pressure on Jermell Charlo in a one-sided victory for the Mexican. EPA
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, right, applies pressure on Jermell Charlo in a one-sided victory for the Mexican. EPA
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, right, applies pressure on Jermell Charlo in a one-sided victory for the Mexican. EPA
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, right, applies pressure on Jermell Charlo in a one-sided victory for the Mexican. EPA

'Nobody can beat this Canelo': Alvarez dominates Charlo to win by unanimous decision


Steve Luckings
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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez put on a dominant performance to defeat Jermell Charlo by unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

Judges scored the fight 119-108, 118-109, 118-109 in favour of the Mexican who held on to his undisputed super middleweight title.

Alvarez was in control of the fight from the start, pressing Charlo against the ropes and unleashing body shots on the American.

Alvarez, 33, scored the only knockdown of the fight in the seventh round with an overhand right and an uppercut.

It was just the second time in his career Charlo had been knocked down, but he was quick to get back to his feet.

Alvarez continued to dominate and while failing to get the knockout blow, came away with a statement victory.

“Nobody can beat this Canelo,” Alvarez said.

Charlo, who had not fought since May last year and jumped up two weight classes for this fight, landed some solid punches but offered nothing that could stop his opponent.

The win improved Alvarez’s record to 60-2-2 as he successfully defended his world titles for the second time this year, having defeated Britain’s John Ryder on May 6 in Mexico.

“I wasn’t disappointed not to get the knockout," Alvarez said. “I feel great. That’s why we fight 12 rounds. If I don’t get the knockout, I get 12 rounds to show I’m the best, that I’m the better fighter. That’s why it’s 12 rounds, to show who’s better.”

Who he fights next is uncertain.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has declared David Benavidez will be his mandatory challenger for the super middleweight belt.

But Alvarez has not committed to facing Benavidez, a 26-year-old who is 27-0 with all but four wins by knockout. If Alvarez turns down Benavidez, the WBC likely would vacate his championship.

When asked after the fight about his future plans, Alvarez said, “Cinco de Mayo against whoever. I don’t care.”

Even though Charlo (35-2-1) was the one moving up, he is 4 inches taller than the 5-foot-8 Alvarez and with a 2 1/2-inch reach advantage. That didn't matter as Alvarez promised before the fight, saying his experience would prevail.

“I just felt like I wasn’t me in there," Charlo said. “I don’t make excuses for myself, so it is what it is. I take my punches and roll with it.”

Now Charlo is ready to step back, saying he would love to take on 40-0 Terence Crawford, the reigning welterweight and super welterweight champion.

“I’ll move back to 154 [pounds],” Charlo said. “This morning, I weighed like 172 or 173 pounds. I’ll grandfather myself into this. I’m proud of myself. He didn’t knock me out. He knocked all them other guys out. He hit me with some hard shots. I thought I got mine off.”

THE BIO

Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist

Age: 78

Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”

Hobbies: his work  - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”

Other hobbies: football

Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club

 

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The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

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The specs: 2019 Audi A8

Price From Dh390,000

Engine 3.0L V6 turbo

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Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

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2021 World Triathlon Championship Series

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Date TBC: Chengdu, China

Updated: October 01, 2023, 8:51 AM`