Chavez Sr: Canelo Among Mexico's Best 10, But Not in Top 3 or 4

[Ruthless-RKO]

The man who many view as the greatest Mexican fighter in history, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., believes Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is now among the ten best Mexican fighters in boxing history.

But, he feels Canelo still has a ways to go before he reaches the level of being in the top three or four on that list.

"I think Canelo is now among the ten best Mexicans in boxing history, but he's still not in the top three or four," said Chavez Sr.

Chavez Sr. was ringside this past Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, when Canelo won a twelve round unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs to unify the IBF, WBA, WBC middleweight titles.

"Canelo vs. Jacobs was fight that didn't have a lot of action. Jacobs fought very well. But he do not win because he did not throw enough. Canelo was able to nullify him with his waist movement, but he didn't take a lot of risks. He fought well but he did not improve since his last fight," Chavez Sr. said.

Chavez Sr. praised Canelo for securing the huge contract with DAZN, for 11 fights and $365 million.

"Canelo has earned what he has, based on effort, dedication, perseverance and above all: a lot of discipline," said Chavez Sr. said.

The contest with Jacobs was a huge ratings hit in Mexico,

According to ESPN Deportes, it was viewed in Mexico by more than 30 million fans. The broadcast was carried by the two biggest television channels in the country, Televisa and TV Azteca.

In total there were 30.5 million fans who were watching the fight, and that is practically a quarter of the Mexican population, taking advantage of TV Azteca with 18.4 million viewers and 12.1 million watching Televisa.

[Onetimeonly]

Sounds fair, definitely greater than finito.

[Enlightened-One]

I can't think of ten Mexican fighters that are more accomplished than Canelo. And there are a hell of a lot of fantastic names that originate from that country.

If Canelo can manage to continue his run of good form for another four or five years (unifying the 160lbs titles, beating GGG for the second time, capturing legit titles at 168lbs and 175lbs), then it’ll be almost impossible to exclude him from making the top-five.

Personally-speaking: The most recent iteration of Canelo, the version we witnessed against Jacobs, probably beats the 37-year-old GGG, the 36-year-old Sergey Kovalev and Callum Smith.

I’ve never considered myself a big fan of Alvarez (so I have no loyalty and won't really care if he loses), but I do find his in-ring ability impressive and I find it quite amazing that he somehow manages to continue improving as each bout passes by. He hasn’t rested on his laurels and plateaued – he just keeps getting better. Even if you hate him, you have to be impressed by this.

[JimStone]

Wonder who he has. ..

Himself
Sanchez
Barrera
Morales
Olivares

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is Duran was Mexican, where would he rank?

Top 3?
Top 5?

[Enlightened-One]

Is Duran was Mexican, where would he rank?

Top 3?
Top 5?

Assuming you mean, "if [Roberto] Duran was Mexican", then he'd be considered as being at the very top of the pile, above the likes of Olivares, Chavez and Sanchez.

[DrDuke]

Is Duran was Mexican, where would he rank?

Top 3?
Top 5?

Duran is the best Hispanic boxer ever. Btw, in my opinion, he's the best ever overall.

And Chavez is right, Canelo is already in Mexican top-10 list. But not in the top-3 or 4 indeed.

[Enlightened-One]

If Duran was Mexican, where would he rank?

Roberto Durán's father is allegedly of Mexican descent.

[oogiebe]

He's top 10, but he's also not finished yet.

[Onetimeonly]

Is Duran was Mexican, where would he rank?

Top 3?
Top 5?

#1 by a lot.

[oogiebe]

#1 by a lot.

Duran is an easy pick if he were Mexican.

[Onetimeonly]

Duran is an easy pick if he were Mexican.

Yeah, as is there are more than 5 with a claim.

[Thomastearns]

"Canelo vs. Jacobs was fight that didn't have a lot of action. Jacobs fought very well. But he do not win because he did not throw enough. Canelo was able to nullify him with his waist movement, but he didn't take a lot of risks. He fought well but he did not improve since his last fight," Chavez Sr.


Brilliantly stated.

Instead of taking a few risks and trying to close out fights he's happy to merely coast to points knowing that the judges (who naturally enough want to continue getting the Vegas gigs) are on his side. He can leave the risks to his opponents.

Jacobs said he thought he'd done enough - in Vegas, against Canelo? Come on Danny.

Huge doubts will remain over whether Canelo should be ranked at all until the day he signs up for random year round testing.

Circumventing the 8 week VADA testing is child's play to someone with Canelo's resources. Getting caught last time was really careless, or perhaps really arrogant.

Mexican style indeed. I don't think so. Mayweather style, maybe.

[PUGLET]

Juan Manuel Marquez gotta be in the top 5 for sure. Hell... I'd rate Pipino Cuevas and Carlos Zarate and Bazooka Limon head of Alvarez by a mile pat this point. He lost to GGG 2X, Lara 1X and should've had a draw vs Jacobs. Red-headed Mexican.... otherwise, no one would care.

[oogiebe]

Juan Manuel Marquez gotta be in the top 5 for sure. Hell... I'd rate Pipino Cuevas and Bobby Chacon and Bazooka Limon ahead of Alvarez at this point. He lost to GGG 2X, Lara 1X and should've had a draw vs Jacobs. Red-headed Mexican.... otherwise, no one would care.

I'd have Olivares ahead of Alvarez.

[ironbeard]

TEM (The Entitled Mexican).

[Best Coast]

Here's a recent poll taken a few weeks ago here at Current Scene. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Salvador Sanchez, who finished 2nd to Chavez among Current Scene commenters...

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=229995&hilit

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (SR) 11

SALVADOR SANCHEZ 9

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ 3

MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA 3

CANELO ALVAREZ 1

FINITO LOPEZ 1

CARLOS ZARATE 1

[Lackeos]

Other Mexicans not yet mentioned in this thread:
Jose Napoles
Vicente Saldivar

[SenorPipino]

Juan Manuel Marquez gotta be in the top 5 for sure. Hell... I'd rate Pipino Cuevas and Carlos Zarate and Bazooka Limon head of Alvarez by a mile pat this point. He lost to GGG 2X, Lara 1X and should've had a draw vs Jacobs. Red-headed Mexican.... otherwise, no one would care.

Bazooka Limon. That's a stretch. I've never heard anyone rate him that highly.

Pipino. Definitely great. But Canelo would outbox him.

Zarate is an ATG. Top 5 Mexican.

"Otherwise no one would care." Another huge stretch.

You have something against successful red heads? Probably anti-Danny Lopez too.

[Onetimeonly]

I don't see zarate top 5.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Would Cotto have broken into the top 10? If he was Mexican?

Cotto did lose some of the bigger fights, but I guess he only lost to those that were actually better than him. Bar Sadam Ali.

[Enlightened-One]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Salvador Sanchez...

I did, but his reputation is sadly more based on "what could have been?" rather than "what he actually achieved".