For many, Saturday night was believed to be the end of one era and the start of another, but Floyd Mayweather apparently didn’t get the memo as he dominated Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez from start to finish.
Mayweather (45-0) made a strong case for every single round in the hotly anticipated bout at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand with many boxers and reporters alike scoring it a shut out on social media. However, the judges clearly didn’t see the same fight as it was amazingly scored a majority decision: 117-111, 116-112, 114-114.
The scorecard of CJ Ross outraged viewers on social networks as she scored the ridiculously one-sided fight a draw, which unfortunately took the gloss from a masterclass by the world’s number one pound for pound fighter.
From the outset, ‘Money’ Mayweather was able to establish his jab, landing it at will with Alvarez struggling to land any clean shots, which was the only consistent thing about the Mexican throughout the fight. Mayweather’s defence was as tight as always, mainly taking shots on the arms and back.
There were brief moments when Canelo tried to enforce his strength and size on his opponent but Floyd was just too slippery and timed his counter punches perfectly. Although the Mexican was the much stronger fighter, he was the only one who looked like being stopped mid-way through the fight. But Alvarez hung on to last the distance.
In the post-fight press conference, the five-weight world champion wouldn’t be dragged into naming his opponent for his next fight, which is likely to be in May of next year, but one can only assume the shortlist is exactly that. Short.
There are barely a handful of opponents that would be financially viable to face the pound for pound king, not to mention that would be willing to fight him.
Mayweather has often said he wants to fight in the UK and Amir Khan would be the only realistic opponent for him on these shores. However, Khan will first have to come through a stern test in Devon Alexander, another potential opponent for Floyd. Austin Trout has also been mentioned but that fight is highly unlikely with Trout coming off a loss to Mayweather’s latest victim, Canelo.
Should Danny Garcia (who defeated Lucas Matthysse with a classy performance over 12 rounds on the Floyd-Canelo undercard) decide to move up to welterweight however, there is a very real chance we could see him in the ring opposite Floyd Mayweather Jr next May.