LAS VEGAS — It’s all about business. Canelo’s business, which these days is beginning to look a little bit like a monopoly of the middleweight division and perhaps a lot more.
The Canelo biz continued to roll on, almost as if it had been scripted Saturday night in a unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs at T-Mobile Arena for four pieces of the 160-pound tile. Jacobs was supposed to pose a real threat. He possessed all of the things that have troubled Canelo Alvarez in the past.
But Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) is never exactly the same fighter he was in the past. He evolves. He learns. He wins. Jacobs’ quick feet, long jab and switch-hitting versality were all there. But never long enough to upset Canelo or his ceaseless march through and over any perceived difficulty.
Good businessmen are supposed to solve problems. Canelo has. And does. His is a career that unfolds almost like process. Jacobs’ had his moments — in the sixth round, again in the seventh and in the ninth. But they were never more than just that: Passing moments and none ever sustained over 12 rounds.
Canelo won on all three cards – 116-112 on one and 115-113 on two. Dispute the margins. But not the victory. In the early going, Canelo flashed some slick, newfound head movement that troubled Jacobs, who had said that the Mexican struggled against moving targets. In the early going, however, Canelo flipped that one. He was the moving target.
In the middle rounds, he drew Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs) into the center of the ring, real estate that was supposed to complement Jacob’s skillset. But. But a toe-to-toe exchange in the middle of that contested canvas allowed Canelo to exert his superior power. It left Jacobs wary at a moment when he needed to be bold. His defeat was imminent.
“It was just what we thought,,’’ Canelo said in his matter-of-fact tone. “We knew he was going to be a difficult fighter but, thank God, we did things the right way, what we were going to do. It was just what we thought because of the style of fight that he brings. But we just did our job.”
Canelo created just enough doubt in Jacobs to keep the likable Brooklyn fighter down on the cards and unable to do enough for a scorecard victory, especially in a city known to favor the Mexican on the Cinco de Mayo weekend.
It definitely took me a couple rounds to get my wits about me, to figure out his rhythm, because he’s a pop shotter,’’ said Jacobs, who was subject to a $1-million fine for being 3.6 pounds heavier than the contracted 170 pounds in a morning weigh-in. “He was a fast guy, very slippery. It was a great contest today, I look forward to the future. I feel like I gave enough tonight to get the victory, so I’ll have to go back to the tapes to see exactly what happened.”
Jacob’s quote might be the first in which a rival fighter has called Canelo fast and slippery. It is sure sign of the way he continues to evolve.
For now, the questions is: What’s next? Gennady Golovkin was in Vegas and at ringside after announcing that he hired trainer Johnathon Banks, who succeeds Abel Sanchez. GGG is 0-1-1 against Canelo, both bouts controversial and both at T-Mobile.
The next date for Canelo to fight is in mid-September. Like Canelo, GGG has a contract with DAZN, the streaming service that was expected to pay Canelo between $30 and $35 million for his victory over Jacobs.
“One of the reasons Gennady chose the Zone (DAZN) was that it was the cleanest path to a third fight,’’ GGG promoter and manager Tom Loeffler said Saturday before opening bell.
Canelo did say no to that possibility after his decision over Jacobs.
“I’m just looking for the biggest challenge. That’s all I want,” said Canelo, who went on to say there was no lingering anger at GGG that might prevent the third step in a trilogy. “No, for me, it’s over. But if the people want another fight, we’ll do it again, and I’ll beat him again.”
Again, that’s business, the Canelo way.
Golden Boy Promotions executive Eric Gomez called Vergil Ortiz Jr. “boxing’s best prospect” at a news conference. Hard to argue with that one. At least, it was Saturday night when Ortiz’ power did what nobody ever has: Knock out welterweight Mauricio Herrera.
Jo Jo Diaz wins stoppage, calls out Tevin Farmer
A new look doesn’t make for a new fighter. But a new weight class might.
At least, that’s what Jo Jo Diaz Jr can hope after a super-featherweight stoppage of Nicaraguan Freddy Fonseca (26-3-1, 17 KOs).
Lamont Roach wins unanimous decision over Oquendo
Lamont Roach took punches and gave up points early. But he took control of the tempo and his future late, scoring a unanimous decision over experienced Puerto Rican Jonathon Oquendo in a victory that could be a stepping stone toward a major super-featherweight title.
There was no escape from power and aggressiveness. Not this time. Sadam Ali had no where to run, no place to hide, from an incoming Anthony Young (21-2, 8 KOs), an Atlantic City welterweight who trapped the favored Ali (27-3, 4 KOs) along the ropes and finished the Brooklyn fighter with a succession of unblocked punches late in the third round of the final fight before DAZN-streamed portion of the Canelo-Jacobs card.
It was an interim title. Aren’t they all? But John Ryder looked as if he might become a long-term champion.
