I was interested to read that you consider Canelo an all-time great. It made me question whether the disappointment of his late career have overshadowed his many achievements? Narratively, every fighter’s career can be divided into chapters, and what happens in one chapter impacts how people view the story as a whole. It’s obviously subjective, but I think Canelo’s career loosely fits into four distinct chapters, described below. From his debut to Austin Trout (2005-2013) – for brevity, I’m making this one chapter, although he has enough fights for an entire career. He wins world titles and The Ring belt but he’s not yet Canelo the global superstar; he’s a boxer more than a brand. Record in this chapter: 42–0–1. From Mayweather to Golovkin I (2013-2017) – establishes himself as the biggest star in the sport, fighting marquee names such as Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Golovkin. However, he gets a debated win over Erislandy Lara and an extremely controversial draw with GGG. Even worse, he blatantly delays the Golovkin fight versus an older opponent and fails a drugs test in the aftermath. A huge star, but a divisive one. Record in this chapter: 7–1–1. From Golovkin II to Caleb Plant (2018-2021) – his peak. Beats GGG in a classic that elevates both men, wins a legitimate light-heavyweight title and goes undisputed at super middleweight in less than a year. He carries boxing through the Covid era. There’s a genuine aura around him, and if he retired after beating Plant his legacy would be greater than it is today. Record in this chapter: 8-0. From Bivol to Crawford (2022-2025) – doubles his career losses, and records a string of underwhelming decisions over overmatched opponents. The biggest mark against his name is the fight that doesn’t happen against David Benavidez – a blatant duck. Correctly or not, everyone now believes he would have lost to Benavidez, which further hurts his legacy. This chapter is unfinished but it’s surely his final one. Record in this chapter: 6-2. I’d be fascinated to get your thoughts on this assessment and whether it’s a fair one. It’s less about fights themselves; more the narrative of a career and how it can shift through actions both inside and outside the ring. When Canelo finally retires, it will be interesting to see whether the disappointment of the final chapter fades or if it tarnishes the whole story.
