Canelo vs Kovalev fight: Mexican runs risk in latest cherry-pick against light heavyweight world champion

WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev puts his belt on the line against three-weight world champion Canelo Alvarez tonight in Las Vegas hoping to roll back the years and upset the Mexican’s plans of adding a fourth world title in as many divisions.

The 36-year-old Kovalev, just two months after stopping Anthony Yarde in Russia, is enjoying an Indian summer despite his increasing age, while Alvarez is seemingly bulletproof as a professional boxer, with over 50 victories at the age of 29.

This could be a fight for the ages. It’s youth versus maturity, it’s size vs craft.

In one corner, you have Sergey Kovalev. A light heavyweight world champion since 2013, the Russian has defeated many difficult opponents in his career, and arguably was most impressive during his first ever defeat, to Andre Ward in 2016.

Kovalev’s unique ability to deal with pressure and controversy is perhaps his most impressive attribute. Yes, he punches hard, has a great 12 round engine and better technical ability than he’s given credit for, but there is a steel in his resolve which is seemingly unbreakable.

The veteran kept his destructive boxing style despite Roman Simakov dying three days after their 2011 fight, travelled abroad in his early career to face and defeat Nathan Cleverly in Wales and Jean Pascal in Canada, and recovered from a shock knockout defeat to Eleider Alvarez last year to outclass the Colombian in their February rematch.

His victory over Anthony Yarde in August was equally impressive, with many writing off Kovalev as past his prime prior to the bout. Instead, it was Kovalev who outskilled his younger and bigger rival, and the Russian showed exceptional recovery skills to re-adapt following a furious burst from Yarde in the middle of the bout.

Yarde was allegedly offered step-aside money instead of fighting Kovalev in order to allow the Alvarez fight to happen, but instead the bout is happening two months later, with Alvarez desperate to get the fight in before the end of the year.

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There is perhaps not another fighter on the planet as wily as Alvarez, and though he has one of the best resumes in the sport, his main legacy seems to be based on being just the right side of nefarious.

Drug test failures, contractual weight demands, friendly judging, Alvarez is exceptionally difficult to beat both as a fighter and as an anti-hero.

This is the man who made his professional debut at 15, who has 51 victories by the age of 28. The records are astounding for a man still so young. First world title at 21, a three-weight world champion across multiple organisations. Hell, his lone loss came against Floyd Mayweather, a fight the Mexican took when he was just 23-years-old.

If you’re looking for a modern day phenom, you’re looking at Canelo, an exciting, good-looking, modern-day superhero who frequently takes on the best whenever he can. But it’s the manner of those victories that is often criticised, with the Mexican frequently enjoying an advantage over his opponents in more ways than one.

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Alvarez always finds a way to win. Somehow, with the exception of that one youthful blip against Floyd Mayweather over six years ago, the Mexican has had his hand raised when it mattered most.

This is why some people are split on who will win tonight. Because surely, even considering the great skill and talent coming from the Meixcan corner, the guy who has dominated light heavyweight for the past decade would usually be a monumental favourite against a guy who won his first world title at a weight over 20 pounds lighter?

It’s all to do with timing. Has Alvarez got Kovalev at the right time? If he thought the champion was still in his prime, this fight would not be happening. The snapping jab, the relentless pressure, the power – has Kovalev dimmed enough for the prodigy to ignore physics and establish his own size?

Has Kovalev had enough time to recover from his absorbing battle with Anthony Yarde? Two months between fights is ideal for prospects in easier, learning fights, but for two world class 12-round camps? It’s most unusual in the modern age of boxing.

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Yet here’s the thing nobody is talking about – has Alvarez spent enough time adjusting to light heavyweight? Has he sparred enough against legitimate 175 pounders and does he really believe his skills will be improved and not regress at a weight at the much higher weight?

On a beautiful day, cherry picking can be amazing. You leave the house with wide-eyed optimism and finish up with a mound of juicy success that can be enjoyed in the weeks to come.

Sometimes though, cherry picking can go wrong. The opportunistic grab at something you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get can turn bitter, with the entire mission a disappointing let-down.

Canelo Alvarez will wake up tomorrow either with a fourth world title belt next to him in his luxurious Vegas suite, or the knowledge that perhaps this time, not even his reputation could provide another boxing miracle.