Canelo v. Julio Cesar Vasquez.

[Rover]

No blown-up lightweight here. Vasquez was a long-reigning titlist and a hard fighter. Vasquez takes this for me based on Canelo so far. Vasquez would've wiped the floor with the comp Canelo faced.

[giacomino]

Agreed. Vasquez by KO

[Rover]

Agreed. Vasquez by KO

Some fairly ordinary comp took Vasquez the distance; wouldn't be shocked if Canelo did. Dotuev (Vasquez's first American TV appearance) took him into the tenth and actually KD'd him twice. Again, no doubt I'd pick Vasquez to win.

[giacomino]

True, also hard to judge Canelo at this point because he's beaten a lot of welterweights in his "big" fights. Vasquez was just such a strong jr. middleweight that I can see him taking out thr current Canelo

[Datsue]

Canelo's abysmal defence wouldn't do him any favours here. I mean, Vasquez wasn't exactly schooled either, but he was a big, strong tough fella who could punch hard with either hand & was able to come off the floor to win. Can you see the current version of Canelo having enough to beat any version of Winky Wright, let alone knock him down five (or however many it was) times?

I can't. On that alone, Vasquez by late beating.

My feelings on this may change, however, if Canelo ever fights someone the same size as he is who has a pulse.

[Rover]

Canelo's abysmal defence wouldn't do him any favours here. I mean, Vasquez wasn't exactly schooled either, but he was a big, strong tough fella who could punch hard with either hand & was able to come off the floor to win. Can you see the current version of Canelo having enough to beat any version of Winky Wright, let alone knock him down five (or however many it was) times?

I can't. On that alone, Vasquez by late beating.

My feelings on this may change, however, if Canelo ever fights someone the same size as he is who has a pulse.

Agreed, except I'd lean towards a distance fight based on some of the people who took Vasquez the distance. Who's the best opponent Vasquez ever KO'd?
Answer: Carl Daniels, when he was past prime (he meaning Vasquez) and way behind. Of course, considering what Norris did to Daniels, we knew that Carl could be tagged at jr. middle and dispatched.

[Datsue]

Who's the best opponent Vasquez ever KO'd?

JCV had more than enough power to take dudes out; he was just so crude he couldn't land enough to do it against the top boys, imo.

For proof, I'd offer that he genuinely showed he had the raw power to one-shot-drop top lads when he performed the trick on dudes (Winky, Whitaker) he had no chance of stopping--short of a miraculous Hail-Mary shot, sort of thing. Alvarez (again, merely imo) wouldn't last the distance based on his gods-awful defence; if the kiddie turns out to have the world's best chin or something then I shall have to rethink it a touch but otherwise my point stands: wobbling around after JM Cotto hits you does not fill me with confidence as to what would happen if a big angry South American southpaw who could reach it starts swinging at your chin & won't go away.

JCV's lack of finishing nous would matter little here, I contend; he'd simply beat the ever-living shit out of Canelo until either the corner or the ref has seen enough.

[Rover]

Who's the best opponent Vasquez ever KO'd?

JCV had more than enough power to take dudes out; he was just so crude he couldn't land enough to do it against the top boys, imo.

For proof, I'd offer that he genuinely showed he had the raw power to one-shot-drop top lads when he performed the trick on dudes (Winky, Whitaker) he had no chance of stopping--short of a miraculous Hail-Mary shot, sort of thing. Alvarez (again, merely imo) wouldn't last the distance based on his gods-awful defence; if the kiddie turns out to have the world's best chin or something then I shall have to rethink it a touch but otherwise my point stands: wobbling around after JM Cotto hits you does not fill me with confidence as to what would happen if a big angry South American southpaw who could reach it starts swinging at your chin & won't go away.

JCV's lack of finishing nous would matter little here, I contend; he'd simply beat the ever-living shit out of Canelo until either the corner or the ref has seen enough.

Ugueto made it the distance; so did some others. I just think Canelo could.
Whitaker got dropped more than once; heck, Rafael Williams dropped Whitaker, right?

[Datsue]

Ugueto made it the distance; so did some others. I just think Canelo could.

Fair enough.

Whitaker got dropped more than once; heck, Rafael Williams dropped Whitaker, right?

Did he? [Goes to check...]

He did! Bloody Hell.