GGG vs Canelo - the physical matchup
Posted: 14 Sep 2017, 10:00
People in the media keep repeating that GGG is the bigger, stronger fighter, but I don't think it's that clear cut. Let's break it down:
Height: GGG is listed as 5'10.5", which seems to be accurate. Canelo is listed as 5'9" which is at least an inch too high, giving GGG a 2.5-3 inch height advantage.
Reach: GGG's reach is listen as 70", Canelo's as 70.5". Canelo is broader in the torso, while GGG has slightly longer arms, so he may appear to have a small reach advantage, despite the numbers.
Weight: Both will have to be 160lb for the weigh in. GGG has fought at this weight for his entire career, while Canelo has moved up from welterweight, then light middleweight, as well as the last few years where he has mostly fought (bizzarely IMO) at 155lb. Canelo did, however, compete at a catchweight of 164.5 for his most recent fight, against a very drained Chavez Jr.
GGG looked to come into training camp carrying more fat around his middle than usual and weighed about 5lb heavier than usual at the 30-day check weight, though he was on-target by the 7-day check. Canelo skipped these check weights and has appeared to have put on a significant amount of muscle in the lead-up to this fight. Reportedly, both will be doing to IBF same day check weight, where they will have to be under 170lb.
Canelo is known to be a big drainer, having weighed as high as 172lb in the ring while competing at light middleweight and more recently refusing to be weighed - many postulate his regular fight night weight to be around 175lb. GGG seems to have always made weight comfortably and could almost certainly have competed at light middleweight into his early 30s. The heaviest he was been weighed on fight night is 173lb, just 1lb more than Canelo despite being a division higher.
Being the younger man and the more experienced drainer, I fully expect Canelo to slightly outweigh GGG on fight night, thought like in the Lemiuex fight, GGG will look much the bigger man in the ring, despite being lighter. I actually don't think Canelo's muscle gain was a smart idea for this fight. Had he remained the same size and drained less, he would have been faster and had better stamina.
Height: GGG is listed as 5'10.5", which seems to be accurate. Canelo is listed as 5'9" which is at least an inch too high, giving GGG a 2.5-3 inch height advantage.
Reach: GGG's reach is listen as 70", Canelo's as 70.5". Canelo is broader in the torso, while GGG has slightly longer arms, so he may appear to have a small reach advantage, despite the numbers.
Weight: Both will have to be 160lb for the weigh in. GGG has fought at this weight for his entire career, while Canelo has moved up from welterweight, then light middleweight, as well as the last few years where he has mostly fought (bizzarely IMO) at 155lb. Canelo did, however, compete at a catchweight of 164.5 for his most recent fight, against a very drained Chavez Jr.
GGG looked to come into training camp carrying more fat around his middle than usual and weighed about 5lb heavier than usual at the 30-day check weight, though he was on-target by the 7-day check. Canelo skipped these check weights and has appeared to have put on a significant amount of muscle in the lead-up to this fight. Reportedly, both will be doing to IBF same day check weight, where they will have to be under 170lb.
Canelo is known to be a big drainer, having weighed as high as 172lb in the ring while competing at light middleweight and more recently refusing to be weighed - many postulate his regular fight night weight to be around 175lb. GGG seems to have always made weight comfortably and could almost certainly have competed at light middleweight into his early 30s. The heaviest he was been weighed on fight night is 173lb, just 1lb more than Canelo despite being a division higher.
Being the younger man and the more experienced drainer, I fully expect Canelo to slightly outweigh GGG on fight night, thought like in the Lemiuex fight, GGG will look much the bigger man in the ring, despite being lighter. I actually don't think Canelo's muscle gain was a smart idea for this fight. Had he remained the same size and drained less, he would have been faster and had better stamina.

