Canelo died in Las Vegas against Jermell Charlo
The Mexican Saúl Canelo Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KO’s) unanimously defeated the American Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KO’s) at the T-Mobile Arena in this city and retained his four world champion belts. super middleweight, in the historic first fight, in the era of the four organizations, where two undisputed champions faced each other on the ropes.
The judges voted 119-108, 118-109 and 118-109 in favor of the Mexican, who thus defended for the third time his status as monarch of the four main boxing organizations (WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF).
“I am a strong fighter all the time, against all fighters. I am a strong man. No one can beat this Canelo,” the Mexican stressed at the end of the fight where he was never in danger against Charlo.
Canelo came into the fight with the favor of bettors, with a score of 4-1, and confirmed the prediction by winning most of the rounds against Charlo, another undisputed champion, but in the super welterweight division.
“We work attacking the body. We know he is a great boxer. He knows how to move in the ring. We work attacking the body for three months. For three months in the mountains without my family, without everything,” he commented on his strategy and what he had to do. . . sacrifice for this fight. “But I still love boxing. I love boxing so much. Boxing is my life. Boxing made me the person I am today. That’s why I love boxing so much. And I love boxing so much also because of my fans.”
Canelo knocked down Charlo in the seventh round with a right hook and right hook combination. Regarding those blows he explained that “I worked the whole fight to get to the body and then I changed (to the head). That happens when you change the blow.”
Compubox statistics show the clear dominance of the 33-year-old Mexican. He threw fewer punches (385 compared to 398), but landed 134 in total compared to only 71 for the American. In jabs (56 of 40) and power blows (78 of 31) he also prevailed without major difficulties.
“I felt like it wasn’t me who was there,” Charlo explained. “I don’t make excuses, so it is what it is. I take my punches and move on. It’s boxing. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
“I could actually feel the weight difference. I jumped 14 pounds,” Charlo added. “I am undisputed in my weight class. I dared to be great, but sometimes you fall short. You just have to keep trying. My path doesn’t end here.”
Regarding his future, Canelo stressed that he returns on “Cinco de Mayo against whoever. I don’t care.”
While Charlo made it clear that he will return to his natural weight class of 154 pounds: “Of course, I’ll go back to 154. This morning I weighed like 172 or 173 pounds. I’ll take care of that.” I’m proud of myself. He didn’t bother me, “he knocked him out. He knocked me out. All the other guys. I took some big hits.”
“I will fight whoever I have to fight,” added the American. “I’m willing to fight anyone. I want to fight Terence Crawford. I could fight Terence Crawford in my weight class. I know he’s somewhere in this room. Let him fight Errol Spence or whatever you’re weighing, take him “. . the way. I’m waiting.”
