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Canelo Crushes Saunders In Entertaining Affair
By William Trillo
Photos: Ed Mulholland - Matchroom
In front of 70,000+ boxing starved fans in Arlington,
Texas, Super Middleweights Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
(56-1-2, 38 KO’s) and Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KO’s)
fed the near capacity crowd with an action-packed fight
that was more competitive than many thought it would be.
After over a year of fan free prize fighting due to the
Corona Virus Pandemic, this fight was just what the
doctor ordered, so to speak.
In the opening round Saunders threw some range finding
jabs while Canelo was more cautious with his punches and
was content to survey the landscape. A good body shot
from Canelo landed in the closing seconds of the first
round.
Canelo significantly picked up the pace at the onset of
round two. Pressing the action Canelo had Saunders
moving in retreat to avoid the strong punches from
Alvarez. That aggression would carry on into the next
round as it was clear Canelo had his foot firmly on the
pedal now.
Although he had tried and missed in the earlier rounds,
it was in round four that Canelo landed a strong
right-hand uppercut on the bobbing and weaving Southpaw
Saunders, (Keep that punch in mind for future
reference).
Saunders had a good fifth round as he caught the
attention of Canelo with a nice shot to the body
followed by coming over the top with a head snapping
punch. That rally had the Brit looking sharp and moving
confidentially as the round came to its conclusion.
Carrying that confidence into the sixth round Sunders
remained aggressive as he tried to stay the effective
aggressor. For his part Canelo did not panic but instead
remained focused as he was dissecting Saunders game plan
in order to wreak some havoc of his own. He would be
putting that into effect sooner rather than later.
With his range finder beginning to pinpoint his target
Canelo was having less trouble with that Southpaw
movement and rhythm. Saunders was not moving so
comfortably around the ring anymore and although he
would shake his head in the negative anytime Canelo
landed his punches, it was here in round seven that the
end appeared to be right around the corner.
Round eight was nothing short of spectacular for
Alvarez. The right uppercut that appeared to be Canelo’s
“Money Punch” in this fight cashed in bigtime as the
well placed punched nailed a ducking Saunders who took
the full force of that punch on his left eye. Seconds
later Saunders would begin pawing at that angry wound.
Canelo began waving to the crowd sparking them to cheer
him on as a wounded Saunders labored on in pain. In the
blink of an eye Saunders went from a confident
challenger to an injured fighter that staggered back to
his corner at the round’s conclusion. He was suddenly in
serious trouble.
Saunders slumped to his stool and it didn’t take long
for his corner to turn to the ref and let him know their
man would not be coming out for round ten. Whatever the
damage was, it was enough for Saunders not to want to
continue and risk further punishment.
Officially, Canelo won the fight by TKO after eight
rounds. At the time of the stoppage the judges’
scorecards read 78-74, 77-75 & 78-74 all in favor of
Alvarez who now holds the WBC World Super Middle, WBA
Super World Super Middle and WBO World Super Middle
Titles.
On his performance Canelo stated, “The fight was not as
difficult as I expected. I did not feel he (Saunders)
was winning any rounds. As I said before the fight, I
would get stronger in the eighth round. I think I broke
his cheek, and I knew he would not be coming out for the
next round.”
As to what is next, Alvarez announced, “The plan is to
go for Caleb Plant’s belt. I hope the fight can be
made.” That fight would be for the undisputed 168 pound
titles.
In a somewhat questionable stoppage Light Flyweight
Elwin Soto (19-1, 13 KO’s) was handed a TKO victory over
Katsunari Takayama (32-9, 12 KO’s). Soto may have had an
edge in momentum, but the warrior Takayama was willing
and able to go out on his shield.
But in a move of compassion the ref halted the battle as
Takayama was getting pelted with a consistent barrage of
blows from Soto. To his credit, Takayama was throwing
punches when the ref jumped in, causing many to call
into question this one ending at the 2:44 mark of the
ninth round. With the victory Soto holds onto his WBO
World Light Fly Title.
Super Welterweight Kieron Conway (16-2-1, 3 KO’s)
dropped Souleymane Cissokho (13-0, 8 KO’s) for an eight
count late in the fight but it wasn’t enough. In a nip
and tuck fight scorecards read 97-92 Conway and 96-93 &
95-94 in favor of the new WBA Inter-Continental Super
Welter Champion Cissokho.
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