Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez is widely regarded as one of the best fighters of this generation.
The Mexican is a four-weight world champion, currently undisputed in the super-middleweight ranks, and returns to the ring this weekend in Las Vegas to defend against four-belt super welter champion, Jermell Charlo.
He has been one of the most praised fighters of the last decade, impressing fans with his brutal counter work and commendable chin. Not everybody agrees that he deserves the accolades he has received, though.
Speaking on his podcast, The Fight, Teddy Atlas said that Canelo ‘has always been overrated.’
“Canelo has always been overrated. Now, that doesn’t mean that he is not a real good fighter, but he is not the greatest Mexican fighter of all-time.
He is not the greatest Mexican fighter, he is overrated, he probably lost to [Erislandy] Lara, he lost twice to GGG. I know it’s old news, it is old history, he lost the first two [against Golovkin], especially the first one, he lost to Mayweather, every round, except for with that judge who should be in jail.”
Atlas has followed that opinion up with others in a similar vein in recent times, even in his prediction for this fight with Charlo – although he is backing the Mexican to win via split-decision, even if he needs help from his ‘friends’ in the industry.
Asked about the criticism, Canelo called the trainer-turned-analyst ‘crazy.’
“He’s f***ing crazy that guy. F***ing crazy. And you think he knows boxing? F**k.”
The 59-2-2 fighter has promised to silence any critics who believe he is on the slide following a loss to Dmitry Bivol and two decision wins over Gennady Golovkin and John Ryder.
Speaking on the matter, he said he wasn’t fully fighting fit for the bouts due to hand surgery, and that the Charlo main event will show a different level.