Two-weight champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer Joe Calzaghe hopes Saul “Canelo” Alvarez doesn’t keep fighting for too long.
The Welsh great Calzaghe retired on his own terms, having won all 46 fights in his decorated career, and he watched Canelo lose a decision to Terence Crawford in August.
Alvarez, the 35-year-old Mexican idol, is now 63-3-2 (39 KOs).
“Father Time catches up with everybody, and I just hope he doesn’t go on too long and get beaten by mediocre fighters,” said Calzaghe.
“When you look at it, I wouldn’t put him [Canelo] as an all-time great, to be honest, because he’s lost his biggest fights [to Floyd Mayweather, Dmitry Bivol, Terence Crawford]. But he’s still a great fighter. The amount of fights he’s had, the amount of wins he’s had, he’s had some great wins. But against the top, top fighters, he’s lost, hasn't he? Going from Mayweather … I thought he lost to [Gennady] Golovkin, definitely lost one of the Golovkin fights. But, listen, he’s had a great career. You keep fighting, you keep fighting, you’re going to lose, you know?”
Crawford now holds all of the titles at 168lbs. Calzaghe unified at the weight but was never able to get a shot at the IBF belt. However, Calzaghe does not think Crawford’s one big victory at the weight solidifies him as one of the great super middleweights.
“I think what he did was great, but I think a lot of it's down to Canelo,” Calzaghe explained.
“I think you can't really put a peak Roy Jones in with … people making a point of, would [Crawford] have beaten a peak Roy Jones? Come on, man. No, I think he’s done great, going up in weight. He’s a great fighter, he’s a great fighter, Terence Crawford. But I don't know.
“One fight against Canelo, who I didn’t think really turned up that night – I don’t know. You can make a point, I suppose, because he just beat Canelo, but I just don’t think Canelo’s the fighter he was, judging on that.
“I was impressed with Crawford. I thought he done great. He’s a great boxer. I think he fought the right fight, but also the combination of Canelo … he didn’t really throw any punches, he’s flat-footed, he’s quite flat-footed. But [Crawford] did well. But putting him in the best super middleweights ever, I’m not sure about that.”
Joe Calzaghe was speaking ahead of his exclusive appearance at Paddy’s Sportsbook at The Hippodrome Casino for Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn II on November 15.
