Canelo Alvarez has joined list of boxing immortals but his legacy will always be tarnished by doping
CYNICS like me are wondering what meat Canelo Alvarez was chewing before knocking out Sergey Kovalev last Saturday.
Alvarez gave another virtuoso performance when he crushed ‘Krusher’ Kovalev, to lift the Russian’s WBO world light-heavyweight title in Las Vegas.
Canelo stalked Kovalev for ten rounds, waiting for him to leave his chin unguarded.
The Mexican’s patience paid off in the 11th and when the moment came he reacted with the lightning speed and venom of a striking cobra.
Kovalev, 36, did not know what hit him when Alvarez unleashed a perfectly timed left hook and right cross flush on his jaw.
Sergey had more than held his own until then. But in a couple of seconds he was crumpled on the canvas.
Alvarez now joins a list of immortals — Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez — who have held four or more world titles in different weight divisions.
Very occasionally that old adage that a good big’un beats a good little'un is spectacularly disproved.
It is a remarkable feat for a man who turned pro at 15, 14 years ago, and has jumped two stone from welterweight to light-heavyweight.
Millions of Canelo’s fans hailed the remarkable achievement of Mexico’s favourite son.
Unquestionably, Alvarez is assured history will place him on boxing’s highest pedestal.
He will always be remembered as one of the all-time greats. But, for me, he does not deserve to be put in such an exalted position because he is a flawed fighter.
And gallons of silver polish can never remove the tarnish that will cover him for ever.
It seems to be conveniently forgotten Alvarez failed TWO drug tests that left an indelible stain on his character.
Clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing substance, was in his system and he claimed, amid derision, it got there because he had inadvertently eaten contaminated meat.
Alvarez was made to serve a ridiculously lenient six-month ban when he should have been kept out of the ring for at least two years.
I agree with Amir Khan, knocked out by Alvarez three years ago. He believes fighters found guilty of drug-taking should be banned for life — however famous they are.
It may be unpalatable to say but there is every chance a fighter will one day be killed by an opponent on drugs.
The irony is Canelo, 29, is such a brilliant talent. The idea he needs to cheat to gain an advantage is absurd.
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But despite his genius he would be foolish to remain at 12st 7lb to take on powerhouse Artur Beterbiev, the IBF and WBC champion who has won all his 15 fights by KO.
Let us hope he drops back down in weight so there is a THIRD fight with Gennadiy Golovkin next spring.
However much praise is heaped on Canelo, it must never be forgotten we should never worship false idols.