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Canelo dominates Charlo in one-sided bout
In a highly anticipated fight between two of the best boxers in the world, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez proved once again why he is the undisputed pound-for-pound king of the sport. He defeated Jermall Charlo by a unanimous decision, scoring 119-108 and 118-109 (twice) on the judges' cards.
The fight was a mismatch from the start, as Canelo showed his superior skills, speed, and power against a taller but slower opponent. Charlo, who moved up two weight classes to challenge Canelo, had no answer for the Mexican's relentless body attack, precise combinations, and effective counterpunching.
Canelo set the tone in the first round, pressing the action and landing a hard right hand that stunned Charlo. He continued to dominate the second round, hooking around Charlo's guard and landing a vicious right hook to the body that made Charlo wince. Another hook to the body by Canelo had Charlo thinking twice about engaging.
The third round was more of the same, as Canelo hurt Charlo with a right hand after a hook to the body, then landed strong jabs that snapped Charlo's head back. Charlo tried to rally in the last minute, landing a jab and an uppercut, but Canelo shrugged them off and kept up the pressure.
Charlo had his best round in the fourth, landing a nice counter right hand that caught Canelo's attention. He also landed an uppercut late in the round, but it was not enough to win the round, as Canelo invested in the body, arms, and shoulders of Charlo, wearing him down.
The fifth round was the closest of the fight, as Charlo showed some movement and landed a left-right hook combo that stunned Canelo. He also landed two more combos that scored, but Canelo worked the body and landed his own hooks to the head and body.
The sixth round was a masterclass by Canelo, who used hooks to the head and body to break down Charlo. He also cut off the ring and jabbed effectively, ending the round with a nice combo that left Charlo shaken.
The seventh round was the most dramatic, as Canelo dropped Charlo for the second time in his career with an overhand right on the ropes. Charlo beat the count, but was hurt. He landed a left hook, but Canelo kept coming forward and caught him on the ropes again, ending the round with a strong jab.
The eighth round was a slow one, as both fighters traded combos on the ropes, but Canelo landed the harder and cleaner shots. Charlo's power did not seem have carry, fighting two weight classes above where he became the undisputed champ. He could not hurt Canelo or keep him off.
The ninth round was another Canelo round, as he landed hard shots and made Charlo hold. Charlo did land a good hook and a one-two, but they had no effect on Canelo, who was in complete control.
The tenth round was a sparring session for Canelo, who was cruising to victory. Charlo's trainer, Derrick James, told him he had to stop Canelo in the last two rounds, but it was a hopeless task.
The eleventh round was more of the same, as Canelo outjabbed Charlo and landed a nice right hook to the temple at the end of the round.
The twelfth and final round was a fairly non-descript one, as Charlo tried to throw more, but it was too little too late. Canelo was content to coast to the finish line, knowing he had won the fight by a wide margin.
The final bell rang, Canelo raised his arms in triumph, while Charlo looked dejected. The official announcement confirmed what everyone knew: Canelo had won the fight by a unanimous decision.
Charlo came up two weight classes and off the couch of inactivity, and it showed. He was outclassed and outworked by Canelo, who was more active in the later rounds than he was in his previous fights against Gennady Golovkin and Callum Smith. Canelo cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his generation, and reasserted himself as a top Pound for Pound Champion.