By Ken Hissner: Who was the very best at 168, Alvarez, Calzaghe, or Ward? Actually, Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 59-2-2 with 39 stoppages, who holds the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO Tremendous Middleweight titles, is one in all them.
He received the WBA in 2018 and added the WBC in 2020, the WBO and IBF in 2021, and 17 defenses. He received titles at Tremendous Welterweight, Middleweight, Tremendous Middleweight, and Gentle Heavyweight.
Alvarez fought to a attract his fifth combat with Jorge Juarez, 3-5. He received the WBC World Tremendous Welterweight title in March of 2011, defeating Matthew Hatton, 41-4-2. He was 42-0-1, dropping his first combat to Floyd “Cash” Mayweather, 44-0. In November 2015, he received the vacant Middleweight title defeating Miguel Cotto 40-4.
In September 2017, he drew with Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, 37-0. Although he didn’t deserve the draw, it was a giant increase to his profession. He received the rapid rematch however didn’t combat the third combat for one more 4 years. He received the Tremendous Middleweight title in December of 2018, stopping Rocky Fielding 27-1.
He then defended his middleweight title, defeating Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs, 35-2, in his solely middleweight protection. He received the Gentle Heavyweight title by stopping Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 34-3-1, by no means defending it.
In September of 2022, he misplaced to WBA Gentle Heavyweight champion Dmitrii Bivol, 19-0.
Trying again at others holding titles at that weight which involves thoughts like Wales Joe “Delight of Wales” Calzaghe, 46-0 with 32 stoppages profitable WBO in 1997, IBF in 2006, and each the WBC and WBA in 2007, and with 21 defenses.
Calzaghe got here to the US, profitable his last two fights defeating former Middleweight and Tremendous Middleweight champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, 48-4-1, in April 2008, who went on to win the Gentle Heavyweight title. In Calzaghe’s final combat, he defeated Roy Jones, Jr. Hand accidents induced his retirement.
Oakland, California’s 2004 Gentle Heavyweight Olympic Gold Medalist Andre ”S.O.G.” Ward, 32-0 with 16 stoppages and seven defenses. He got here down in weight as an expert to 168.
In November of 2009, he received the Tremendous Middleweight title, stopping Mikkel Kessler, 42-1. In December 2011, he defeated Carl Froch 28-1. He made six defenses.
In 2016 he received the sunshine heavyweight title defeating Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 30-1-1 in a disputed determination, and made 1 protection in a rematch, stopping Kovalev.
As an opponent of Alvarez, you make more cash than with anybody else. They’re lining up with such challengers as WBC Interim champion David Benavidez, 27-0, WBA Tremendous Middleweight champ David Morrell, 9-0, Jermall former WBC Middleweight champion “Hit Man” Charlo, 32-0, former WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, 32-0 and now WBO Middleweight champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, 13-0. Alvarez is asking for a rematch with Bivol.
Others holding Tremendous Middleweight titles are Roy Jones, Jr. 66-10 with 47 stoppages, and the 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist. In November of 1994, he received the Tremendous Middleweight title defeating James “Lights Out” Toney, 44-0-2 making 5 defenses.
In February of 1993, Toney received the Tremendous Middleweight title, stopping Iran “The Blade” Barkley, 30-7, with 3 defenses.
In December of 2008, UK’s Carl “The Cobra” Froch, 33-2 with 24 stoppages, received the Tremendous Middleweight title defeating Jean Pascal, 21-0. He made two defenses earlier than dropping to Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler 42-2 in April of 2010. He had two defenses earlier than dropping to Ward. He received the title after Calzaghe’s retirement and all the time felt Calzaghe prevented him. I doubt if anybody else did.
Germany’s Sven “Phantom” Ottke, 34-0 with six stoppages, received the title, defeating Charles “The Hatchet” Brewer, 32-5, in September of 2000, making 13 defenses. He defeated fellow German Mads Larsen, 44-1, in September of 2003.
So you will have Alvarez, Calzaghe, and Ward as probably the most excellent, so who do you decide?
