Canelo Alvarez commended Jermell Charlo for moving up two weight classes to challenge him at the T-Mobile Arena. However, throughout their 12-round bout, Alvarez felt Charlo lacked the intent to win. Post-fight, Charlo admitted he could have been more aggressive, but Alvarez believes fighters often struggle to execute their gameplans against him due to his formidable ring presence.
Critics observed that Charlo seemed more focused on lasting the distance against Alvarez rather than securing a victory. Alvarez consistently cornered Charlo, who frequently clinched to counter Alvarez’s power. A potent right from Alvarez in the seventh round further emphasized his dominance, sending Charlo to the canvas.
Although Charlo managed to recover and avoid a knockout, the judges’ scorecards reflected Alvarez’s clear superiority. CompuBox stats underscored this, with Charlo landing only 18 percent of his punches, while Alvarez landed 35 percent. Surprisingly, Alvarez also out-jabbed Charlo, a testament to his strategic prowess.
Reflecting on the fight, Alvarez said, “That was my plan, neutralize everything he’s gonna come with. He’s a counterpuncher with a good left hand. I tried to not get hit. Sometimes fighters can’t do anything in the ring.”
Image Credit: Premier Boxing Champions