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Will Canelo Alvarez be written off?

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Author: Sean Crose

With the possible exception of Anthony Joshua, he was the face of boxing after the Mayweather era. And while Canelo Alvarez is more overmatched than many fighters, he has fought and won enough times, against earnest enough competition, to respect him for all he has accomplished in the ring. But since he lost a one-sided decision to all-time great Terence Crawford a few months ago, Canelo is largely viewed as yesterday’s news, or even as someone who was never that great of a fighter to begin with – as if back-to-back wins against top competition didn’t matter.

Some of it makes sense, of course. Ring Magazine may no longer rank Canelo in the top 10, but there is a legitimate argument that he no longer belongs there. The same goes for people who aren’t crazy about seeing Canelo fight Crawford again. These fans rightly feel they don’t need to see the rematch. Crawford performed so brilliantly in the first fight that there’s really no reason for either man to want to take it back (unless a contract was signed for a rematch first, of course). But treating Canelo like he’s passe is ridiculous. He is still one of the best fighters in the world, even if after nearly 70 fights he is no longer the boxer he once was.

Moreover, even if Canelo is in a dwindling phase, he is probably still better than 80% of the fighters he may face in the future. Even a second loss to Crawford does not mean the end of his career. He can still win the belt at some point against a champion who isn’t as talented as he is. People seem to forget that Canelo still has a great year or years ahead of him. He’s just not at the point now where he can take on the best of the best and expect to win.

Or maybe he actually expects to win. According to reports, it appears he is eager to return to the ring with Crawford. Perhaps he will rejuvenate after defeat. Perhaps he will focus and see the gaps in Crawford’s game. Or maybe it’s just pride or an inability to let go of the past. Either way, the guy deserves the fans’ respect, and it will take more than just a loss to Terence Crawford to say that Canelo Alvarez is pretty much worn out at this point.

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Boxing

Sergei Gorokhov KO toppled after ring invasion in Turkey

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Image: Sergei Gorokhov KO Overturned After Ring Invasion in Turkey

Gorokhov (16-11-2) had already done damage with large shots, finishing Kalkan (7-0, 4 KO) with a spotless knockout that forced the referee to wave his hand. The task has been completed.

After being detained, Gorokhov walked to the opposite corner, where a fight began. That was enough. The cornermen ran inside, the voices became piercing, followed by punches. Within seconds, many people entered the ring.

The situation got out of the referee’s control. The horns could not be separated. Once the non-fighters make it through the ropes, the result will be written in the record books.

The footage showed flying chairs and people trading on ropes as security tried to take control of the situation. The recording shows objects thrown near the ropes. The announcements to stop the fight didn’t change anything. The ring is already gone.

The sanctioning authority has confined powers and the ruling follows standard procedure. When the ropes are broken and extra hands are involved, the score cannot stand and is removed from the scoresheet.

An investigation is ongoing and suspensions and penalties are expected once reports are submitted. The verdict now comes from the officials, not the blows that ended it.

Kalkan keeps his undefeated record in the books. Gorokhov leaves without the victory he earned. Disciplinary action is expected following the investigation.

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Oleksandr Usyk said he “can’t run away” from the newly emerged title challenger: “I will bully him”

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Oleksandr Usyk told that he ‘cannot run’ from newly emerged title contender: “I’ll bully him”

Although Oleksandr Usyk presented his three-fight plan, a recent challenger entered the fight with hopes of taking a shot at the Ukrainian and winning the unified world heavyweight titles.

Next month’s meeting with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven kicks off what Usyk envisioned as a series of three hand-picked fights before his planned retirement in 2027, with his next dance partner being the winner of Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois.

However, the WBC is expected to demand that Usyk fight mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel in his next fight, and promoter Frank Warren believes he will be stripped of his belt if he fails to face the undefeated German.

Meanwhile, the WBA and IBF titles are not on the line against Verhoeven, which has fight fans wondering whether Usyk could soon be stripped of those belts as well.

Although if Usyk defends the WBA crown, Jarrell Miller will be waiting for him after him on Saturday evening he defeated Lenier Pero in the WBA eliminator final rise to title contention.

I’m talking to Fighting Hub TV after “Gigantic Baby” won, he told Usyk that there was nowhere to run or hide when fighting him.

“He’s a great fighter, man, but when you’re fighting a bully like me, there’s nowhere to run or hide. Usyk doesn’t really have crazy punching power, and he has trouble with guys who punch to the body and throw a lot of punches.”

This performance [against Pero] it was just a taste of what I could do. So the most essential thing is to go back and get the drawing board back. Let’s work and be ready for everyone.

I want Usyk to come back after the Rico fight and I can spank him.

If Usyk loses the WBA title, Miller could find himself in line for a title fight with current WBA Regular titleholder Murat Gassiew, who expected to be promoted to full champion. Although Moses Itauma would probably get the first shot at the proposed scrap with the Russian.

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David Benavidez has no room for error in the fight against Ramirez

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Image: David Benavidez Has No Room for Error vs Ramirez

Benavidez enters Saturday’s fight with Gilberto Ramirez in a situation where even a tiny defeat may have a higher price than one defeat in history. Greater opportunities lie ahead, but those plans depend on beating Ramirez cleanly and leaving Las Vegas intact.

Benavidez will meet Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas in a fight for Ramirez’s WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles for $79.99. On paper, this is a bold move as Benavidez makes the jump from lightweight heavyweight to challenge an established titleholder who has already established himself in the division.

The pressure on Benavidez goes far beyond physical titles. For months, his name has been linked to huge opportunities at 175 pounds, most notably a clash with Dmitry Bivol. A loss to Ramirez would immediately derail those plans, forcing Benavidez into a rebuilding phase and delaying any significant career moves for the foreseeable future.

Winning in an ugly or narrow way can still invite skepticism. Benavidez is known for his constant pressure and high efficiency, and recently he has had a record of immaculate shots and has been forced to persevere in hard moments. Facing naturally larger opponents makes these defensive mistakes much more steep in the long run.

Ramirez may lack elite strength, but he has the experience and durability of a seasoned cruiserweight. He also enters the ring with much less weight on his shoulders than the challenger. All the pressure to perform rests entirely on Benavidez.

Therefore, the risk for Benavidez is much higher than for the man holding the belts. A victory will ensure that his path to mass fights remains clear, while any other result could immediately ruin his momentum and force him to spend time fighting Ramirez again. Getting stuck twice in the Ramirez fight would be a nightmare for Benavidez.

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