Canelo Vs Sweet Hands for Super Middleweight Supremacy + WBC Stats

By James Blears

Every fan is hoping the fight between WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez Vs IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Hunter “Sweet Hands” Plant on November 6^th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise Las Vegas, will be a competitive thriller, with the prize of first ever undisputed monarch in this division, there for the taking.

But Garden of Eden this isn`t! Undaunted Caleb, relishes the chance to test his skills, guile and mettle against Boxing`s number one pound for pound fighter. Canelo 56-1-2, 38 KO`s is at the very peak of his powers and at the very zenith of his brilliantly accumulated skills.  While undefeated Caleb 21-0, 12Ko`s, exudes subtlety, intelligence, the finesse of boxing ability and the cool courage plus self- belief, to make this a great contest, stressing he`s determined to win and pull off a monumental upset.

Seeing is believing but feeling is knowing. Caleb faces a steep uphill learning curve.  He`ll never have been hit so hard as he`s going to be on the big night. So to avoid an excess of this, he must judiciously engage, drawing upon the reservoir of all his ingenuity and acknowledged boxing IQ.

Caleb`s debut as a pro boxer was at twenty one years old. By contrast, Canelo started aged just fifteen. What have they learned along the way, and who can best apply it in these particular circumstances?

Styles make fights.  The question is whether taller, rangy Caleb can use his astute, educated left jab and acutely accurate combinations, utilizing the angles, to keep powerhouse Canelo at bay, and outfox as well as outbox him, evading that pursuing, punishing and potentially pulverizing body attack, which has worn down, broken up, demolished then swept aside so many thoroughly chastised chastened opponents.

To win, Caleb must exceed the performance of Floyd Mayweather, who long ago, inflicted Canelo`s only defeat on points, when Saul was still an almost fledgling far from finished article at twenty three. And go Won better than southpaw Erislandy Lara, who posed tricky problems, but was then milling on the retreat and as such, didn’t do enough to win a decision.

With his body of work, fully matured, Canelo is old school and highly effective. Full marks!  Covering up doesn`t necessarily offer protection, as also tall Callum Smith discovered, when he suffered a detached left bicep, doing well to survive twelve blistering, bludgeoning rounds during which Canelo cut down the distance and cut loose with a cascade of heavy punching, coming up short of  chopping him down.

The seeds of temporary animosity were sewn and unattractively sprouted during a presser on September 21st, when sweet turned to sour and Cinnamon flared, with a two way slapper cake exchange.  Temporary frayed and lost tempers might provide buds of motivation, but a cool mistral wind of tempered aggression from both sides, will swirl and be brought to bear, when they exchange leather. Its gusts will blow away the cobwebs of any lingering residual ill will.

The negotiations for this fight became prolonged, ploughed up and tangled. Canelo`s team was exploring the potential of a fight against WBA “Super” light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, before it came back down to earth, diverting from that different furrow.

Caleb deservedly earned his opportunity by right of winning the IBF title in his eighteenth fight, defeating Jose Uzcategui with a UD.  Jose had been interim champion and was promoted to absolute champion following James “Chunky” DeGale vacating the title.

An awkward eleventh month layoff before it happened, because Caleb broke his left hand in training and underwent surgery plus rehab. When the fight finally happened, it wasn`t all plain sailing. Caleb put him down in the second with a well- placed left hook. But was cut over the right eye in the third, and staggered by a short right hook in the ninth, losing that round and the next. But rallying to win, with a UD: 116-110, 116-11O and 115-111.

He came though his potentially toughest test with relative ease against IBF ex- champion Caleb Truaux this January 30^th, with a thrice 120-108 UD. A good graduation indicator, because tough Traux had won the title off DeGale, only to then lose it back to him by UD.

Canelo has faced and overcome so many quality opponents, winning championships in four divisions. Recent evidence of his tremendous power at light heavyweight can be seen with the eleventh round crushing KO of  WBO champoion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, ruthlessly exploiting a momentary lapse in concentration, to resounding bring the curtain down with a clatter, at a canter.

Canelo and Trainer Eddy Reynoso, who along with Pop “Chepo,” has been with Saul every step of the way, say this fight might contain some initial complications, but each is convinced their man,  will wear down, wear out and overcome Caleb around the half- way point. Aged thirty one, Canelo is more experienced than Caleb who`s two years younger.  On his side Caleb is fresher and has not had to overcome so many exacting tests.

To stand a viable chance of victory, Caleb must pick and choose his  moments to plant his feet and punch hard, yet knowing exactly  when to avoid  and evade whirlwind retaliation, utilizing willow-like resilience, while inflicting measured  birch like masterstrokes, in order to try and earn his place in the sun.

Patience rather than impulsiveness. A biscuit with a discerning touch of caviar, rather than a clumsy dollop. Caleb must also plant his sweet hands, and fight his best fight ever, so as to stem, hold back, divert and  dam/damn it, to confound an oncoming tide, because come it surely will!

The victor of this well balanced intriguing contest must be able to thrive in the limelight and remain cool plus contained under its glare.  As poet Dylan Thomas wrote: “Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Do not go gentle into that good night.”

 WBC STATS

Jose SulaimánWBC HONORARY POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME PRESIDENT (+)

Mauricio Sulaimán

WBC PRESIDENT

WBC SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

 TV: USA SHOWTIME PPV

THIS WILL BE THE WBC’S 2, 120 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE   FIGHT   IN   THE   FIFTY-EIGHT YEAR HISTORY OF THE WBC

TGB PROMOTIONS & CANELO PROMOTIONS, PRESENT:

SAUL ALVAREZ                                                 CALEB PLANT

(MEXICO)                                                         (US)

WBC CHAMPION                                              IBF CHAMPION

Nationality:    Mexico                                     Nationality:           USA

Date of Birth:  July 18, 1990                            Date of Birth:         July 8, 1992

Birthplace:      Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, Jalisco  Birthplace:             Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Residence:      Guadalajara, Jalisco                 Residence:             Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Alias:               Canelo                                       Alias:        Sweethands

Record:           56-1-2, 38 ko’s                         Record:                  21-0-0, 12 ko’s

KO’S %:           64.5%                                        KO’S %:                  57.2%

Age:                31                                              Age:         29

Guard:             Orthodox                                  Guard:                    Orthodox

Total rounds:  425                                            Total rounds:         122

World title fights: 18 (16-1-1)                         World title fights: 4 (4-0-0)

Trainer:           Jose Reynoso                            Trainer:                  Richie Plant / Justin Gamber

Manager:        Eddy Reynoso                           Advisor:                 Al Haymon

Manager: Luis de Cubas Jr.

WBC SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS

NAME                                                            PERIOD AS CHAMPION

1. RAY LEONARD (US) 1988 – 1990
2. MAURO GALVANO (ITALY) 1990 – 1992
3. NIGEL BENN (GB) 1992 – 1996
4. THULANE MALINGA (S. AFR) 1996
5. VINCENZO NARDIELLO (ITA) 1996
6. ROBIN REID (GB) 1996 – 1997
7. THULANE MALINGA (S. AFR) * 1997 – 1998
8. RICHIE WOODHALL (GB) 1998 – 1999
9. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY) 1999 – 2000
10. GLENN CATLEY (GB) 2000
11. DINGAAN THOBELA (S. AFR) 2000
12. DAVE HILTON (CAN) 2000
13. ERIC LUCAS (CAN) 2001 – 2003
14. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY) * 2003 – 2004
15. DANNY GREEN (AUSTRALIA) INTERIM 2003 – 2005
16. CRISTIAN SANAVIA (ITALY) 2004
17. MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY) * 2004 – 2006
18. MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK) 2006 – 2007
19. JOE CALZAGHE (GB) 2007
20. CARL FROCH (GB) 2008 – 2010
21. MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK) * (EMERITUS) 2010
22. CARL FROCH (GB) * 2010 – 2011
23. ANDRE WARD (US) 2011 – 2012
24. SAKIO BIKA (CAMEROON) 2013 – 2014
25. ANTHONY DIRRELL (US) 2014 – 2015
26. BADOU JACK (GAMBIA/SWEDEN) 2015 – 2017
27. DAVID BENAVIDEZ (US) IN RECESS 2017 – 2018
28. ANTHONY DIRRELL (US) * 2019
29. DAVID BENAVIDEZ (US) * 2019 – 2020
30. SAUL ALVAREZ (MEXICO) 2020 –        * REGAINED

WBC´S SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT TOP TEN CHAMPIONS

1. RAY LEONARD (US)
2. JOE CALZAGHE (GB)
3.  NIGEL BENN (GB)
4. ANDRE WARD (US)
5.  MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY)
6. CARL FROCH (GB)
7. MIKKEL KESSLER (DENMARK)
8. ROBIN REID (GB)
9.  DANNY GREEN (AUSTRALIA)
10. ERIC LUCAS (CANADA)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

23 WORLD CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE WBC

OF WHICH ONLY 3 HAVE REGAINED THEIR TITLE:

MARKUS BEYER (GERMANY)

THULANE MALINGA (S. AFRICA)

CARL FROCH (GB)

81 WORLD TITLE BOUTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC IN 12 COUNTRIES

THIS WILL BE THE 29^th. TITLE FIGHT OF WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN UNITED STATES IN SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

WORLD SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY IN WBC HISTORY

USA                                         28

ENGLAND                               21

GERMANY                              13

CANADA                                  5

ITALY                                       4

DENMARK                              3

WALES                                    2

SOUTH ARABIA                       1

SOUTH AFRICA                       1

SCOTLAND                              1

MONACO                                1

FINLAND                                 1

TOTAL FIGHTS                        81

** IN THIS DIVISION NIGEL BENN HAS THE RECORD OF DEFENSES WITH 10

WBC TITLE BOUTS HELD IN THE NEVADA STATE

339 BOUTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE NEVADA STATE IN THE ENTIRE WBC HISTORY

THIS WILL BE THE 7th. WBC SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE BOUT CELEBRATED IN THE NEVADA STATE IN ALL WBC HISTORY.

6 WBC TITLE BOUTS IN THE SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION, THE HIGHEST OF ALL WBC HISTORY.

BREAKDOWN BY DIVISION:

HEAVY                               44

WELTER                             39*

SUPERLIGHT                     35

SUPERFEATHER                35

LIGHT                                33

MIDDLE                             30

SUPERWELTER                  30*

FEATHER                           18

SUPERBANTAM                17

Lt. HEAVY 13*

Lt. FLY 10

BANTAM                           9

CRUISER                            8

STRAW                              8

SUPERMIDDLE                  5*

FLY                                     3

SUPERFLY                          2

TOTAL BOUTS                   339

* IN THIS DIVISIONS THE WERE ON THE LINE 2 TITLES AT THE SAME BOUT

WBC SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHT MEMORABLES FIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

07/11/1988                                                               RAY LEONARD – DON LALONDE         KO 9    LAS VEGAS

12/06/1989                                                               RAY LEONARD – THOMAS HEARNS   DRAW 12        LAS VEGAS

07/11/1989                                                               RAY LEONARD – ROBERTO DURAN   DEC 12 LAS VEGAS

09/10/1993                                                               NIGEL BENN – CHRIS EUBANK           DRAW 12        MANCHESTER

25/02/1995                                                               NIGEL BENN – GERALD MCCLELLAN   KO 10  LONDON

02/03/1996                                                               THULANE MALINGA – NIGEL BENN   DEC 12 NEWCASTLE

11/09/1997                                                               ROBIN REID – HASSINE CHERIFI         DEC 12 WIDNES

05/09/1998                                                               RICHIE WOODHALL – GLENN CATLEY DEC 12 TELFORD

23/10/1999                                                               MARKUS BEYER – RICHIE WOODHALL           DEC 12 TELFORD

12/03/2005                                                               MARKUS BEYER – DANNY GREEN      DEC 12 ZWUICKAU

14/10/2006                                                               MIKKEL KESSLER – MARKUS BEYER   KO 3    COPENHAGEN

03/11/2007                                                               JOE CALZAGHE – MIKKEL KESSLER     DEC 12 CARDIFF

06/12/2008                                                               CARL FROCH  – JEAN PASCAL (VACANT)        DEC 12 NOTTINGHAM

25/04/2009                                                               CARL FROCH – JERMAIN TAYLOR       TKO 12 MASHANTUCKET

17/10/2009                                                               ARTHUR ABRAHAM – JERMAIN TAYLOR       KO 12  BERLIN

21/11/2009                                                               ANDRE WARD – MIKKELL KESSLER    TD 11  OAKLAND

27/03/2010                                                               ANDRE DIRRELL – ARTHUR ABRAHAM         DISQ 11           DETROIT

24/04/2010                                                               MIKKEL KESSLER – CARL FROCH        UD 12  HERNING

27/11/2010                                                               CARL FROCH – ARTHUR ABRAHAM   UD 12  HELSINKI

04/06/2011                                                               CARL FROCH – GLEN JOHNSON         MD 12 ATLANTIC CITY

07/12/2013                                                               SAKIO BIKA – ANTHONY DIRRELL       SD 12  BROOKLYN

24/04/2015                                                               BADOU JACK – ANTHONY DIRRELL    MD 12 CHICAGO

30/04/2016                                                               BADOU JACK – LUCIAN BUTE DREW 12         WASHINGTON

08/09/2017                                                               DAVID BENAVIDEZ – RONALD GAVRIL          SD 12   LAS VEGAS

19/12/2020                                                               SAUL ALVAREZ – CALLUM SMITH      UD 12  SAN ANTONIO

08/05/2021                                                               SAUL ALVAREZ – BILLY JOE SAUNDERS          TKO 8  ARLINGTON