David Morrell v David Benavidez- Feb.1st Prime/PPV

[TitoFan]

For the record, I reckon Canelo will win tonight , probably late stoppage. But I do think Ryder is gonna give him a very tough fight.
Not a hater, but I do think Canelo is ever so slightly on the downslide. Wrong side of 30, little injuries here and there, his style taking its toll, and he no longer has the advantages he once had, nor the desire. It’s totally natural, not really a criticism.
He even mentioned if he lost tonight, that’s it. He never speaks like that.
I think he’s looking to limp his way into retirement without hopefully having any wars. Not sure that’s gonna happen though.

Stop it. Canelo's 32 years old, well within what is normally considered the peak years of boxing. Also when you say he "no longer has the advantages he once had." What do you mean, exactly? Because I can list a myriad of advantages which if anything, have been cemented over time. Desire? Meh. You might have a point.

You see... I don't want to be part of the group that if and when Canelo gets beaten by a Benavidez or a Morrell (let's not kid ourselves... Ryder will be another cakewalk)... I don't want to be part of the group that when that happens, excuses Canelo as being "past his prime." I'm looking forward to Canelo getting thoroughly beaten (again) while totally in his prime. This is the reason the fight with Benavidez needs to happen sooner rather than later. Time is of the essence. Canelo's hemming and hawing and looking at the calendar.

He wants "legacy"?? Benavidez is waiting.

You just said it, why the desperation and time being of the essence, if he is “well within the peak years of boxing.” ?
Different people deteriorate at different times, I think Canelo is on the slide, not massively, but noticeably.

Fair enough to say that you think he's on the decline, and I don't. But the fact of the matter is... the longer the fight takes to happen... the more excuses Canelo and his fans are going to have when he loses.

I hear what you’re saying, and trust me, if he loses, there are no excuses, so fuck what his fans think.

We agree.

In a nutshell, here's the ideal scenario, and one that would gain me some respect for Canelo.

He can rematch Bivol if he insists. That's neither here nor there for me. Bivol already proved his dominance over Canelo, and the only thing missing from that fight was a knockout ending. 168... 175... makes no difference to me. Get it over with, if Canelo wants it so bad (redemption, heh-heh). Bivol seems anxious for another mega payday... so why not. But do it soon and NEXT.

If not, then all roads lead through Benavidez. But here's where my wishes become fantasy. Make the fight in a neutral site, for once. Vegas is not neutral. Vegas is Canelo-Land. Let's not kid ourselves. An opponent has no shot at getting a decision there... and before someone chirps up and says "Oh but how about Bivol and Mayweather"... I'll shut that one down by saying there would've been a federal inquiry had the judges stolen those decisions from them two. And we all know what happened with the scoring in those fights, so no need to go into THAT.

So Canelo fights Benavidez next... in a neutral site... honest attempts to find judges NOT on the WBC or Canelo payroll... and let's get it on.

But... this being a fantasy... I then stumble outside the next day and find that someone accidentally dropped a million dollars outside my front door.



More realistically... Canelo will finish his career with a couple more "gimmies"... and ride off into the sunset claiming some sort of otherworldly status... buoyed by his legions of fans (including casuals), who will fawn and defend every fight on his record. He'll go off and play golf and go into acting (soaps) and do whatever the hell else he feels like doing.