Pound-for-pound No.1 Alvarez takes on Plant on Saturday night in his fourth fight over the last 12 months
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Where does Tyson Fury’s win leave the world heavyweight scene?
No Mexican has ever unified a division and no fighter held all the belts at super middleweight. I expect Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez to tick both boxes against Caleb Plant in Las Vegas.
It is remarkable that Julio Cesar Chavez, Marco Antonio Barrera or Erik Morales never unified. But that says as much about politics and broadcast alliances in a different era as it does about talent.
Canelo sits comfortably alongside the greats of the game, the likes of Stanley Ketchell, Ray Robinson, Jake La Motta, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran.
You cannot say he is better but he is in that class.
He turned pro at 15. He is 16 years a prize fighter. And at 31 he is not done yet.
None of it comes easy. He empties the tank every day in the gym, which is a big part of the reason he is the best. And he has a remarkable chin, which is fundamental to longevity.
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His career will always be clouded by the drugs ban he served three years ago for testing positive for PEDS.
He denied wrongdoing blaming the result on contaminated meat. There will, however, always be a ‘but’, a question mark, how did he obliterate champions from welterweight to light heavy, etc?
Pity because Canelo does not need any enhancement.
I like Plant. I saw him up close when he sparred with George Groves. He is very good.
He reminded me a little of Callum Smith. He does no hit as hard but he is quicker and more elusive.
Plant is good enough to cause Canelo problems early in the fight. He could be well in it at the half way stage.
Floyd Mayweather is the only fighter to beat Canelo. Mayweather was too quick, got his shots off and dropped rapidly out of range.
Plant is no Mayweather. He is a dialled down version. I can see only one eventuality, and that’s a win for Canelo late or by wide decision.
Canelo will start off in a measured way but he is a spiteful fighter and minded to make Plant pay for the insults targeting his mother and the drugs ban that ignited the face-offs in the build-up.
The only real test I see for Canelo is Artur Beterbiev at light heavy. That would be some fight.
He might even chance his arm at cruiserweight against the right opponent.
But the menu for now is entirely Plant based and Canelo is hungry.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone, @McGuigans_Gym and @CyclonePromo
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