Like many onlookers, Eddie Hearn was rather surprised by the lack of commitment from one fighter in the biggest match-up of his career and has called it ‘weird.’
In the latest defense of all four of his undisputed super-middleweight titles, Saul ‘Canelo;’ Alvarez seemed to have it all his own way. He came out faster than usual, landing big shots from the off which seemed to immediately cow his opponent.
From that point on, Jermell Charlo – who was admittedly coming up two weights and off a long layoff – had his hands high and remained fleet of foot, evading as much as he could while Canelo marched forwards and had everything his own way including a knockdown in the seventh round.
Speaking to Matchroom Boxing, Hearn said he couldn’t understand the performance.
“I think one, Canelo came into that fight hungrier, mentally in a better place, physically in a better pace, but I just don’t know what Charlo was doing.”
Given all of Charlo’s talk in the lead-up to the fight, Hearn expected more.
“These guys get the opportunity like that, you’re just not rolling the dice. It looked like a sparring session. I just don’t understand how you can sit at a press conference say this say ‘my time, legacy, shock the world, show I’m a great,’ and then just not even try.”
Hearn then claimed Charro was ‘out of his depth’ and said fighters have to show more, even in defeat.
“If you’re gunna get beat, go out on your shield and get chinned. Those kinds of performances can really affect your profile. Before the fight, Charlo against Terrence Crawford was a mega fight. Is it now?
I though it was a really disappointing fight. He just went into his shell and tried to survive, it was weird, very poor.”
Certainly not according to Crawford’s post-fight reaction, while fans are calling for Canelo to go on to face David Benavidez next.