One of the most anticipated fights of the year will be taking place at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, when Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez takes on Erislandy Lara. Join The Roar for live round-by-round updates and commentary from 11:00am AEST.
This fight is a true throw-back to the golden age of boxing where the best would take on the best, losses weren’t the end of a career but the development of a fighter, and the business side of the sport was a secondary concern.
Canelo Alvarez, universally loved and seen as boxing’s future superstar, has stepped up to the challenge set by the most dangerous fighter to his career, Erislandy Lara.
Canelo made his professional debut at 15 and won his first title at 20. Lara on the other hand is pure boxing pedigree, having learnt his craft in Cuba and being heavily favoured to win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before defecting to the United States to pursue a professional career.
Although eight years separates the two, their records are near identical. Testament to this, Lara and Alvarez have both beaten big hitters and serious contenders, Austin Trout and Alfredo Angulo, in the exact same fashion.
Having lost the biggest fights of their careers to date provides further evidence to the evenness of this fight and the need for both to win.
Lara was the victim of bad scoring against Paul Williams in 2011, and Alvarez was outboxed by Floyd Mayweather last year in a fight probably three years before time for Canelo.
Golden Boy Promotions have produced a really strong undercard for the fight, with some reputable boxers coming off losses; it’s the bill of revivals.
Mauricio Herrera will look to correct his questionable loss to Danny Garcia in March by putting away Johan Perez early. Juan Manuel Lopez’s forward, flurrying style will provide an entertaining fight against the fast fisted Francisco Vargas. Abner Mares is looking to reinstate his reputation as a serious top-tier featherweight after losing to Jhonny Gonzalez last year by a first round KO.
At a time where associations, promoters, belts and interims are finally starting to be ignored and people are more interested in the purity of the best facing the best, boxing benefits greatly from this fight.
With the prospect of the winner getting a change at Miguel Cotto or Mayweather, two of the most dominant fighters around, this is the just the beginning of a new golden era of boxing, an age of honor and glory.
Predictions:
Lara – majority decision
Herrera – TKO
Vargas – unanimous decision
Mares – KO
Rabbits
Guest
Canelo should fight James Kirkland next. That's a pay-per-view fight. Fundamentally, Cinnamon is good. He's got heavy hands, he punches in bunches, he doesn't neglect the body, he paces himself well, his chin is B+, footwork is good, good head and shoulder movement and he counters well too. He's proven himself to be an elite level fighter with a huge fan base (Mexicans and Mexican Americans love him) hence all the PPV shows and the big money. I'd love to see him against a junkyard dog like Kirkland who'd be in his grill all night. Kirkland's style with Canelo Alvarez's drawing power would sell out most big venues in California (Thomas & Mack, whatever the have in Carson City, Fresno, etc...) If Canelo gets past Kirkland (which he should on paper). Lara is a great boxer. He showed that against monsters like Alfredo Angulo and Paul Williams. He can "fight" if he has to. Something tells me that against Canelo, Angulo, Williams, and guys who like to come ahead and throw lots of punches, sticking and moving wasn't going to sway the judges unless he did it like Mayweather and basically nullified his opponents strengths while scoring consistently with accurate punches. Still Lara is an A level cat who will pose problems for any top 10 junior middleweight accept Gennady Golovkin, who could probably beat Lara and Canelo black and blue on the same night!
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
It was a great fight and could have gone either way. Thanks to Aaron O'Brien for his contributions to the preview article above.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
The judges have a split decision 115-113 for Lara 115-113 for Canelo 117-111 for Canelo Canelo is the winner! and the Mexican supporters are going crazy!
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Lara finishes the 12th with a taunted and quick 2 punch combination to the head. It was such a close fight, it's hard to see the judges not awarding it to Alvarez being the "house fighter" and having the louder crowd.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Canelo continues to land really heavy shots as he has every round. Lara continues to stick and move. Both are looking impressive, but due to his style, Lara needs to follow up more to get the win.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Canelo comes out firing for the 12th forcing Lara to slide across the ring. Lara provides two strong punches to Canelos head, but Canelo retaliates with a combination.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Very close round. I'd like to see the stats because I think there was only 2 or 3 punches in it.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Alvarez gets in two hooks to the body which Lara replies with a quick jab and straight through Canelo's guard.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
start of the 11th, Lara lands a clean straight and avoids Canelo's uppercut
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Coming into the last two rounds I have 6 to Canelo, 4 to Lara.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
A good combination to the body from Alvarez, but Lara is controlling this round, landing straights almost at will.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Lara needs to take the last three rounds if he is going to win on points. He opens the 10th well landing 3 nice punches, but Canelo continues to stalk Lara and drop some hooks on the turn.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Lara slipped. Canelo round.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Round 9 is looking to be a faster round again like round 8, showing Alarez has really worked on his fitness and stamina., he is known for gradually declining after the 5th. Canelo is dropping a lot of great body shots on the turn.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
The cut above Lara's right eye is really opening up.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Alvarez has landed a couple straights to Lara's chest/stomach and is stalking Lara around the ring to follow through with some strong hooks to the ribs. Lara is performing well defensively but isn't throwing enough. Alvarez round.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Round 8 starts and Lara starts with some quick hands to the body and face,
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Canelo got the edge in the 7th with the stronger hits and possibly landing a few more too.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Alvarez lands a second body shot and followed it up with a strong combination.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Alvarez fakes an upper cut to land a strong right to the midsection. Lara throwing more this round, landing more clean punches.