Former Pound-for-Pound king Canelo Alvarez did not lose to Floyd Mayweather and could rival Manny Pacquiao’s eight-weight title feat.
By his own admission, Canelo took nothing from his 2013 loss to Floyd Mayweather. That included the fact that he was outpointed.
Speaking to actor Eugenio Derbez about the first loss of his career, the Mexican superstar shared his thoughts on the event.
Canelo vs. Floyd Mayweather
At the time, the Pay Per View was labeled “The One”.
Canelo stepped up to the plate when he was young. He faced the experienced Mayweather at the MGM Grand.
The result was close on the cards but not in many front row eyes.
Finding it a challenge to read Floyd Mayweather’s defensive style, Canelo hit wildly at times and couldn’t find a rhythm. Inexperience played an important role.
But on reflection, Canelo doesn’t see the opposite as a blot on his majestic record.
“I didn’t take it as a loss,” Alvarez said. “Later, I took it as an apprenticeship.
“I still didn’t have the experience to fight on those stages. It was a really boring fight” against “the best fighter in the world”.
Invincible
Canelo added that he quickly shook off the disappointment of how much it damaged his invincibility aura.
“It hurt a lot that night. But the next day I told myself that that would not take anything away from my goal of being the best.
“In boxing I am the second Mexican in history who managed to become the best pound for pound.”
Already a champion in four weight divisions, Canelo is expected to return to the light heavyweight division in 2023.
Two years from now, Canelo can be a five-weight world ruler if he campaigns at cruiserweight.
Floyd Mayweather accomplished the same feat from super featherweight to super welterweight.
As his career winds down, the brilliant 32-year-old is planning an incredible career at heavyweight. With the new bridgeweight division in the middle, there will be a slim chance of being a seven-weight world champion.
It would be quite remarkable, especially if Canelo were to win a belt recognized at all the higher limits.
manny pacquiao
Going from 154 to the top division would certainly be a Manny Pacquiao-level achievement.
The debate between Pacquiao and Canelo would intensify if he somehow achieved a world championship in seven weight classes.
It has long been argued that Pacquiao’s lineal win in a non-championship fight alone makes him a seven-weight ruler himself.
But the main topic of conversation would be whether going from 105 to 154 pounds is a better achievement than going from super welterweight to heavyweight.
WBN editor Phil has over ten years of boxing news experience. He follows WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
