On a night when its biggest star “Canelo” Saul Alvarez was set to make history, boxing decided to take a backseat to MMA, delaying their main event until the Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal UFC battle ended. That was just one of the many surprising storylines on a crazy fight night that spawned millions of thinking face emojis.
Does the “D” in DAZN stand for “Delay”
Boxing fans on the East Coast may have never been more thankful for daylights saving time. DAZN’s decision to set the Canelo Alvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev fight an hour back in order to avoid conflicting with UFC 244 had people scratching the heads and boxing diehards in a Twitter tizzy.
We can’t prove that the delay might have contributed to a sluggish bout, but the potential slugfest between the Mexican champ and the Russian war machine clearly didn’t live up to the hype… until its dramatic conclusion. While UFC’s Masvidal vs. Diaz was a great fight with a shoddy conclusion, Canelo vs. Kovalev was a slogfest that ended in fireworks. In the 11th round, Alvarez proved why he was boxing’s hottest asset by knocking out his much larger opponent for a world title in his fourth weight class.
Prior to the KO, most of the fight was a slowly-paced chess match. Kovalev (34-4-1) boxed from the outside, sniping Alvarez with his famed jab. While the Russian never fully deployed his deadly power, he was ahead on many viewers’ cards before the stoppage. Canelo’s knockout was the stuff of legend and showed a glimpse of why he’s the best P4P fighter in the world.
The big question is what Canelo can do for an encore? The 29-year-old Alvarez (53-1-2) has three stacked divisions knocking at his door. Hell, even UFC fighter Tyron Woodley wants a piece. A rematch with Gennady Golovkin is at the top of everyone’s holiday wishlist, but Canelo has repeatedly said he’s not interested. If he stays at light heavyweight, the division is stacked with two other Russian world champs (Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev), who would provide excellent matchups on paper, but how much green paper would those fights bring in? Whatever Canelo decides, it will probably be big as its clear he’s chasing legacy instead of any foe.
As for Kovalev, it’s clear the “Krusher’s” best years are behind him. He’s 36 years old, been through a lot of battles, and retirement could be an option or maybe a swan song fight with Bivol or Beterbiev if Canelo moves down?
Ryan Garcia shuts up the haters
Ryan Garcia’s (18-0) fight ended faster than an Instagram story. The 21-year-old top prospect is a fan favorite but a polarizing figure whom some unfairly claim is more of a brand than a boxer. Garcia proved the haters wrong with a statement win, demolishing fellow Golden Boy prospect Romero Duno with 1st Round knockout.
The Filipino Duno (21-2), who had called out King Ryan and talked a lot of smack going into the fight, couldn’t back it up in the ring, taking a flurry of shots before crumpling into a heap after a swift right hand from “The Flash.
Afterward, a beaming Oscar De La Hoya with dollar signs in his eyes joined Garcia for the post-fight interview. While the impressive win drew talk of a Gervonta Davis or Devin Haney showdown, Garcia said he would leave it in the hands of his promoters to decide what’s next for the rising star.
Berchelt retains his belt
While Top Rank’s Kovalev was headling a DAZN event in Las Vegas, Bob Arum was putting on a fight in Carson, CA, which shows growth within the sport, right? Miguel “El Alacrán” Berchelt (37-1) has quietly become one of boxing’s most feared men. The Mexican fighter showed why, by battering Jason Sosa (23-4-4) into submission, forcing the New Jersey native’s corner to throw in the towel.
What’s next for the 27-year-old super featherweight kingpin? Berchelt recently called out Oscar Valdez and Vasyl Lomachenko, two fights any boxing fan would pay to see.
Crolla goes out on top
Anthony Crolla (35-7-3) wrapped up a gritty, gutsy career with a gritty, gutsy win. In a majority decision victory, the 32-year-old British fan favorite thwarted Spaniard Frank Urquiaga, who almost spoiled Crolla’s farewell fight.
Despite lacking the Olympic and amateur pedigree of other British fighters, Crolla was beloved for his dedication and humility. He’s best known stateside for losing to Lomachenko this past April, but he’s a former world champion and someone Eddie Hearn believes has earned his spot as a U.K. boxing legend.
