04/16/24
March 06, 2011
Alvarez Becomes Youngest Super Welterweight Champ: Mexican boxer Saul Alvarez became the youngest world champion in super welterweight history by defeating Britain's Matthew Hatton for the vacant World Boxing Council crown Saturday. Alvarez, 20, improved his record to 36-0 with one draw and 26 knockouts, taking a belt vacated by Manny Pacquiao.
I think the kid is great. Although I got the feeling he would KO Hatton, especially in the later rounds, the fact that he kept his composure, and stayed within himself is really a sign of maturity. The KO's need to come naturally and not forced. For a kid in his first world title fight, he did everything right, pressed the fight every round, and was brilliant with his combinations. I do agree with Bonkers that against better punchers and better boxers, his wading in with hands so low could be an issue, but I have seen him fight before and his level of defense is really there when it needs to be.
posted by Atheist at 10:37 AM on March 07, 2011
With the caveat that any of the sanctioning body titles are meaningless trinkets handed out mostly at random, or just to make someone sound impressive.
Canelo's impressive, but he's showed some flaws last night.
1-A lack of KO power. He should have been able to KO Hatton (especially after he got really pissed at the questionable low blow call in the 7th). A lot of boxing fans I was reading doubted Hatton would go the distance. 2-A lack of defense. No head movement, nothing. Canelo just keeps coming in and throwing combinations (clean, good combos, I'll grant). Fine against Matthew Hatton, dangerous against better fighters.