One of the biggest fights of the decade sees Floyd Mayweather and Saul Alvarez meet at the MGM Grand. Join us for live updates from 11.00am AEST.
Billed as ‘The One’, the card’s main event will feature unbeaten pound-for-pound king Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr versus undefeated 23-year old Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
The bout will be for the WBC and WBA super welterweight belts. The card is expected to shatter pay-per-view records.
So whose record will remain unblemished?
Mayweather’s keys to victory
Mayweather has presented the boxing world with a puzzle that no fighter has managed to solve in 17 years and 44 professional fights.
Fighting behind a low left hand and a high left shoulder, Mayweather deftly ducks and dodges punches while returning ample fire.
As the speed of his youth has slowly diminished, Mayweather now relies on his boxing acumen to win.
He has proven frustratingly difficult to hit and it’s often when opponents get overly aggressive that Mayweather does his best work.
Mayweather’s reflexes and experience are his best assets in this fight. He should look to frustrate Canelo early, disrupt his rhythm and lure him into swinging wildly.
Canelo has only reached the 12th round five times in his career, so Mayweather should look to make it a battle of patience and attrition en route to a comfortable decision.
In short, Mayweather has to fight like Mayweather.
Alvarez’s keys to victory
According to Shane Mosley, the only common opponent between Mayweather and Canelo, the young Mexican’s best bet is to put constant pressure on Mayweather to disrupt his rhythm.
With 30 knockouts to his name, Canelo is a hard puncher that likes to throw unpredictable combinations and employs a strong body attack.
These tactics should work well against Mayweather.
Mayweather is a slow starter, usually using the first two rounds to read an opponent’s rhythm and find ways to counter.
Canelo would be well-served to attack his body early and consistently to slow Mayweather down, do some damage and prevent him from dictating the fight’s pace.
While Mayweather’s head is almost impossible to hit, his body is a slightly easier target.
Mayweather is a master of reading body movements and punches, hence his ability to predict which punch an opponent will throw next.
Canelo should use his unpredictable combinations – doubling or even tripling up on punches with the same hand – to prevent Mayweather from establishing a defensive rhythm.
Mayweather showed in the Cotto fight that he can be susceptible to a solid jab, so Canelo should look to employ that same tool. Perhaps Canelo’s biggest challenge is to remain patient.
All too many of Mayweather’s opponents have been lulled into swinging wildly against the ropes and making careless mistakes.
Canelo should attack hard early and consistently but should resist the urge to hunt for a highlight-reel KO. It’s a long night ahead!
Bill Larkin
Guest
Ross should not only never be allowed to judge a fight ever again, she should be fined. I've watched countless fights in my time, but this was the most ridiculous exercise in judging ever. I don't like Mayweather, but he absolutely dominated a very credible challenger. He is an all-time great, perhaps the greatest.
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Glad you enjoyed the live updates mate!
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Not surprisingly, CJ Ross also judged that Timothy Bradley beat Manny Pacquiao.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
We will - while he was out-fought, it was a genuine fight that went the distance.
Kane
Roar Guru
Thats a guaranteed $42 million plus his share of the PPV which could be another $70million if they sell 3 million PPV tickets
TGGOA
Guest
A win and $42 million, that must feel good.
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Canelo: I'm only 23 years old, this was a good experience for me. I'll be better prepared for my next fight. Classy in defeat. Really hoping we see more of this kid.
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Here's hoping!
Kane
Roar Guru
Majority decision: Judges C.J. Ross 114-114 Dave Moretti 116-112 and Craig Metcalfe 117-111 score it for Mayweather
Kane
Roar Guru
At most 2 rounds to Canelo no idea how CJ Ross got that. Surely she has judged her last bout?
Kane
Roar Guru
I have it Mayweather 120-108 but suspect the judges will call it 118-110
Kane
Roar Guru
ROUND 12 Chants of Canelo! ringing hollow. He may have gotten a few rounds from judges, but has been outclassed here. Jabs by Mayweather. Mayweather jab and backs. Canelo can’t catch him. Some boos. Mayweather runs to Canelo. Jabs away some more. Canelo rights don’t phase Mayweather. He’s dancing in last 10 seconds. He should have easy win as Canelo walks away demoralized. Mayweather 10-9
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Mayweather wins by majority decision. CJ Ross scored it 114-114. Seriously?! Some shoddy judging in Vegas tonight, good thing all the decisions went the right away.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Id like to know what fight CJ Ross was watching ... but it was the right result from two of them
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Round 12: Floyd doing a lot of dancing away this round, to the crowd's displeasure. Seals it by continuing to make Canelo miss. That's all she wrote, this might just be a shutout on the cards.
Kane
Roar Guru
Mayweather 110-99
Kane
Roar Guru
ROUND 11 Mayweather jab to head. Canelo right to body. Canelo misses hard right. Punches connected: 202-101 for Mayweather right now. Hard left by Mayweather. Again. He whips a jab to Canelo’s face. Hard right to head by Canelo, and he’s getting in good blows against Mayweather in Canelo corner. Mayweather escapes. Canelo swings and misses. Moves off right uppercut by Canelo. Close round. Mayweather 10-9
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Canelo is going to learn a hell of a lot from this fight
Jason Tulio
Roar Guru
Round 11: Mayweather on cruise control now, landing pot shots on Canelo at will. Canelo's pace has slowed considerably. Much talk of "Canelo is the future, Floyd is the present"
Kane
Roar Guru
Mayweather 100-90