Tomorrow night, Canelo Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) looks to defend his super middleweight titles against the challenging Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) in a battle of legacies.
A Close Look at Canelo vs Charlo
Back in 2014, Canelo Alvarez was coming off his first career loss to Floyd Mayweather and he responded by fighting two of the toughest men in his career. Bouts with Alfredo Angulo and Erislandy Lara both were seen as big risks for the then 23-year-old, but he won both and a superstar was born.
The shoe is now on the other foot where Jermell Charlo came off a questionable decision where he fought Brian Castano to a draw in 2021 and followed that up with two dominant wins. He now is lined up to take on his own biggest test of his career in the form of the undisputed Mexican champion.
They present interesting challenges for each other both offensively and defensively. Whoever can figure out the other first is going to not only have a chance to win this fight but potentially finish it.
Canelo Alvarez’s Keys to Victory
For Canelo Alvarez, he does not need to do anything crazy. While he is proven to be a complete boxer in terms of offense, keeping it simple and beating Charlo with the basics is possible. This is not a knock on Charlo but it is a hole in his game to which it can be taken advantage. As the fight drags on, his mechanics tend to relax and he can get sloppy with his punches and guard and that is where Canelo can come in.
In his first bout with Tony Harrison where Charlo suffered the only loss of his career, Harrison found a home for his jab and straight right early and often. It broke Charlo’s guard and it made him take more risks which resulted in his polished punches getting sloppy. One thing Canelo has shown is that no matter where the fight goes or how it progresses, his technique never goes to the wayside.
Look for Canelo Alvarez to use his jab and straights early and often, if he does, then look for the middle rounds to be where he opens up his arsenal a little more. At that point, the Mexican superstar will smell blood in the water and can look for a finish.
Jermell Charlo’s Keys to Victory
Let’s make one thing clear, despite the odds, Jermell Charlo is very much a live underdog here. He has the punching power to make an impact at any moment in the fight while also having the ability to apply pressure and take advantage of his opponent’s mistakes. The part where he applies pressure is where Charlo has his best chance to make inroads against the undisputed champion.
Charlo does not have anything in his arsenal in terms of offensive that is truly elite but the power he possesses in his right hand is enough to make a difference. He is great everywhere but his best skill is his gas tank and ability to apply pressure and not get tired no matter how late in the fight it is. He has several round 10 and beyond knockouts in his career including his revenge win against Tony Harrison.
If Charlo can stay in this fight and weather the middle rounds where Canelo thrives, he has a real shot to steal this bout with his style. In his first fight against Castano, he learned a valuable lesson—you cannot take your foot off the gas. . .and since then he has not.
The Canelo vs Charlo PPV event is tomorrow night, September 30th, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The PPV kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Premier Boxing Champions hosts the PPV event.
