Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan
Liam Brady, Staff Writer/Graphic Designer
Despite the physical disadvantage, I do feel Amir Khan can tag Canelo Alvarez with his speed, as well as make it awkward for Canelo to hit him when retreating on the back foot. However, as we know, it’s not that simple. In order for Khan to win, he has to throw and not be intimidated.
But when you throw, you leave the opportunity for a counter-shot, and the man he faces is a canny counter-puncher, with decent speed of his own. Particularly those vicious uppercuts that Canelo dishes out.
Add on top Canelo’s physical strength, and it wouldn’t be disrespectful to Khan to suggest it’s a matter of time until he gets caught and overwhelmed. Boxing is not black and white, but because he has been stopped by smaller fighters, it’s natural to assume a heavier fighter will replicate that, and more.
Though, I’m going to push the boat out and say Khan surprises people. Not that he wins, but he goes the distance in a gutsy effort that we are accustomed to seeing when Khan fights. That itself would deserve respect, as well as the respect he deserves for stepping up to fight Canelo.
I feel Canelo will be patient, and his crude shots will land once Khan starts throwing combinations and provides openings. Maybe even a knockdown or two, but Khan will hang on. He will probably target the body to slow Khan down and negate his movement.
Canelo by decision in a comprehensive victory. But of course, I won’t be surprised if this ends early.
Prediction: Canelo
Ismael Gallardo, Photographer
Prediction: Canelo
Jack O’Connell, Staff Writer
This has got to be one of the strangest big match ups of the last couple of years. Just like last week’s Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz, who knows what to expect?
A lot of people are hating this match up. A Canelo wipeout over a glass-jawed welterweight. Understandable. I say nay. Canelo Alvarez could potentially be setting himself up for disaster.
Canelo’s offense is completely dependent on planting his feet and firing combinations. If you keep him on his toes and chasing, Alvarez’s aggression drops to ineffective levels. Against Lara and Mayweather, Alvarez looked absolutely befuddled and lost in the ring.
Both Lara and Mayweather stayed light on their feet, picked off Canelo from a distance, then got out of the pocket. Khan has the legs and hand speed to give Canelo nightmares. Khan can glide across the ring and pepper the lumbering Alvarez from a distance. If Canelo manages to get inside, Khan’s mastery of smothering will keep him safe and sound.
All of this sounds wonderful for the Khan supporters, but Amir has a crucial bad habit that will cost him-consistency. Khan has a tendency to dominate early in a bout, but from there, seemingly ease up. In Khan’s toughest fights, he dominates early, but eventually slows down enough to let his opponents get going. Khan cannot ease up against Canelo, otherwise he’s going to get ripped apart.
Truth be told, I see the match up panning out in my head-Khan will start fast. Canelo will lose the opening rounds. Khan will fade, allowing Canelo to connect with power shots, specifically the straight right, a punch Khan is notoriously open for. From there, the bigger, stronger Canelo will seize the moment, flooring the finishing the brave Englishman. Canelo by mid-round KO.
Prediction: Canelo
Michael Burnell, Staff Writer
WBC Middleweight (a relative term these days but that’s for another article) champion Canelo Alvarez laces ’em up Saturday night to take on Amir Khan in his first defense of his freshly acquired crown.
It is an interesting matchup featuring two very popular fighter in their prime facing off for a major belt…for as long as it lasts.
The challenger Khan has an uphill battle despite substantial hand speed, his only advantage entering this bout. He was knocked out in devastating fashion, not merely stopped but knocked…out..at Super Lightweight and Lightweight respectively with the most recent against Danny Garcia in July of 2014.
Since moving up in weight he has had three fights at Welterweight and struggled to edge a decision against Chris Algieri in his last outing a year ago this month. This title fight is his first match as a Middleweight.
The champion Alvarez also doesn’t have much experience at Middleweight, but is naturally the far larger man and will likely enter the ring at 175 pounds after rehydrating.
The hard punching Mexican has underrated hand speed and ring generalship. Motivated to make a statement Canelo does exactly that.
Alvarez by decapitation in Round 7.
Prediction: Canelo
Ardy Ajoste, Graphic Designer
Prediction: Canelo
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
I could spend this brief write up complaining about the hypocrisy of this matchup, but I’m going to digress. I do believe Amir Khan’s skill sets, particularly his hand speed and movement, will present issues for Canelo Alvarez, if Canelo comes in trying to “outbox” Khan–a la the Floyd Mayweather fight.
However, I also believe that Canelo’s size and power give him the biggest edge in this fight, if he can effectively cut off the ring and catch up to Khan.
Khan’s chin has always been his most obvious flaw. The question to this fight is: how long until Canelo catches up to Khan and lands something meaningful?
I think it’ll take about seven or eight rounds. Canelo wins by stoppage in the middle to later rounds.
Prediction: Canelo
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Khan
Shelbi Keyes, Staff Writer
Saturday night, Canelo Alvarez takes on Amir Khan at the inaugural boxing event held at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alvarez won the vacant WBC world Middleweight title last November against Miguel Cotto, fighting at the agreed upon weight of 155-pounds.
This Saturday night, Canelo and Khan will do the same. This will be Khan’s first career appearance beyond the 147-pound weight class. Khan is coming off of five wins, with two losses in a row previous to those – losing to Lamont Peterson in 2011 and Danny Garcia in 2012.
Alvarez has won four fights in a row, with his only loss being to Floyd Mayweather in 2013. Though there is a perception that Alvarez is much larger than Khan, Alvarez is only a half inch taller, with a half-inch shorter reach.
I think this fight will go in Khan’s favor in the early rounds because of his faster hands and feet and slight reach advantage. If Khan can effectively mirror the boxing style of “track-star” Erislandy Lara, he will be able frustrate Alvarez. While it is likely Khan will win the beginning rounds of the bout, Alvarez will simply be using these rounds to size up Khan and assess the best tactics to use going forward.
As Alvarez “lets” Khan pull ahead on the scorecards in the first stretch of the fight, he will wait for Khan’s initial energy fade, cut of the ring, eliminate escape routes, and get himself in position to land powerful shots.
While there is a small piece of me that believes Khan has a chance to surprise boxing fans world-wide with a huge upset, he would have to avoid taking heavy punches early on and conserve his energy. If he is able to avoid Alvarez’s wrath and still look virtually untouched and confident mid-fight, his chances of an upset will rise dramatically.
But, I don’t see that happening. Instead, I see Alvarez taking full control of the fight by the sixth or seventh round. I am expecting Canelo to score at least one knockdown during this fight, coming in the seventh or eighth round, which will be the beginning of the end for Khan, with a stoppage soon after—no later than Round 10.
Prediction: Canelo
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Kudos to Amir Khan for taking this fight. To be great, you have to take risks and this is the biggest risk he can take. For all of the shit we give fighters, this isn’t a game. He’s facing a damn Super Middleweight (come fight night) who can punch and the potential of getting starched by him is enough to make anyone think twice.
It’s not like Khan is 35 and looking for that last big payday, so he’s got some balls stepping up and taking this fight. Now, having said all that, I can’t pick Khan knowing what we know. We know Khan has been knocked out by Bredis Prescott and Danny Garcia, plus he had fits with Chris Algieri.
Yes, “styles make fights,” but if Canelo imposes his size and attacks early, this one shouldn’t go past three rounds. Canelo should make a statement and do what you’re supposed to do against the smaller fighter with a suspect chin–knock him out.
Prediction: Canelo
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