Comments Thread For: Teddy Atlas: "If Canelo's Gonna Be Called One Of The Greatest Mexicans, He Has To Fight Benavidez"

[TheOneAboveAll]

Canelo is never going to be an "all-time great". He will be known a s a really good fighter with an all-timer chin. He lost two fights to his only truly great rival, GGG, given gift cards on both of them, and everyone knows it. Floyd past his prime made him look like an amateur. Bivol kicked his ass well, and the judges still tried to gift it to him.

He fought and beat some good fighters, most if not all past their primes and cherry picked. Benavidez will F him up.

He goes down in history as a top guy in his generation. Not all time. Mostly hype.

Who, in your mind, decides which fighters are ATG's? Canelo has already met all the objective requirements (1. fought the best of his era, 2. 4-division champion, 4. 1st ever 4-belt Undisputed SMW champion, 5.) future 1st ballot HOFer) Most importantly, he has the biggest fanbase in the entire sport. These people will regard him as an ATG after he retires. That's how it works. It's just opinion.

[champion4ever]

Atlas is right. Canelo needs to fight "The Mexican Monster" asap because the longer he waits; David is going to fuck him up real bad!

Ginger is not getting any younger. Both his stamina and power are now betraying him. The one thing I do know for sure is that he is not going to defeat Benavidez by only averaging 28 punches per round.

It's going to be a firefight. David won't give him any rest. He stops Alvarez by the 8th round; Largely due to Canelo's age, lack of power and stamina.

[Monty Fisto]

I completely disagree. While Benavidez is finally starting to show he's a legitimate top 3 168lber, assuming Canelo goes on to beat Benavidez, I don't think it'll rank any higher than his win over Danny Jacobs.

Canelo somehow rematching and beating Bivol - which I don't see happening - would rank far higher and do more for his legacy than beating Benavidez.

Completely disgaree?

Among the things Teddy said, was that to be the top 168 pounder, he has to fight Benavidez. And you completely disagree with that? He should be allowed to continue calling himself the best at 168 but only has to face who he picks and chooses? With all due respect, it is a ridiculous thing to say.

Teddy's verbatim words: “If Canelo is gonna be called one of the greatest Mexicans and the top 168 pounder and accept those accolades, then he has to fight Benavidez. He has to fight Benavidez to justify that. He has to."

And it's true.

[hugh grant]

Salvador Sanchez was pretty good. I mean i dont know who Sanchez beat, but i heard hes got some nasty ability.

[MichaelT123]

Canelo won't be an ATG because guys like Toney and RJJ in their primes were in 168 or around the class. Then, add in PEDs, catchweight, rigged cards, suspect fights all over the place vs boxers and other buffoonery' but he probably get the 2nd spot behind FMW for non-heavyweight money earner.

But add to your calendar he is going to beat Benavidez.

Are you aware both Roy Jones Jnr and James Toney tested positive for steroids too?
RJJ at 168lbs and Toney at heavyweight.
I understand PED use was rampant in that era and testing was uncommon and basic.

I do think Canelo’s legacy is tainted somewhat.
He has benefited from cherry picking opponents, Andrade was an outstanding amateur fighter, well respected by all the best professionals. Shame his breakout fight came aged 35 when he’d lost a step and got steamrolled by what appears to be a prime Benavidez.
Canelo jumped weight classes to avoid quality prime fighters in his divisions. He bought his title from Kovalev, who hadn’t recovered from his weight cut and fight a few weeks prior against Yarde, he waited out GGG to get old, and was gifted decisions.
Canelo one of the best of this generation. I don't like how he has been manouvered through competition. Has he fought a single elite fighter in their prime that isn't named Bivol?

[Robi13]

I love it! Keep doubting canelo that he ducking or won’t ever fight Benavidez, love it when the boy shuts every one of his critics up. Been doing it for 13 years.

[Monty Fisto]

I love Teddy, and his boxing knowledge is great.

I do thnk he gets a bit too critical of Canelo. I wondered why, and I am guessing it's because of the positive test years ago for clenbuterol.

I think he has doubs about his innocence. I don't know, but I gave Canelo the benefit of the doubt.

Of course, would love to see fights where Canelo, Benavidez and Morrell fight each other.

There is no doubt about his guilt.

The facts are:

Urine samples given to VADA by Canelo on 17 and 20 February 2018 tested postive for Clenbuterol. No one disputes this.

Clenbuterol is a banned substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency code because it promotes muscle growth through anabolic properties. The rule at the time that Canelo tested positive was that no amount in a competitior's body was acceptable.

Canelo accepted the banned substance was in his body and was banned for six months.

WADA's strict liability principle says that if a banned substance is in an athlete's body, then an anti-doping violation has occurred. The athlete is responsible for anything in their body.

The terms of the ban said he would only need to be drug tested leading up to his next in fight in Nevada, starting 21 days before that next fight.

Bowing to pressure, however, Canelo signed up to year-round random testing in May 2018.

The idea of contamination was smoke and mirrors. The substance was in his body. Canelo didn't dispute it was in his body. The substance being in his body was a doping violation and he was banned. There is no doubt about his guilt in this matter.

[Robi13]

Canelo is never going to be an "all-time great". He will be known a s a really good fighter with an all-timer chin. He lost two fights to his only truly great rival, GGG, given gift cards on both of them, and everyone knows it. Floyd past his prime made him look like an amateur. Bivol kicked his ass well, and the judges still tried to gift it to him.

He fought and beat some good fighters, most if not all past their primes and cherry picked. Benavidez will F him up.

He goes down in history as a top guy in his generation. Not all time. Mostly hype.

He already an ATG lol. Even if he retired yesterday

[Robi13]

I love Teddy, and his boxing knowledge is great.

I do thnk he gets a bit too critical of Canelo. I wondered why, and I am guessing it's because of the positive test years ago for clenbuterol.

I think he has doubs about his innocence. I don't know, but I gave Canelo the benefit of the doubt.

Of course, would love to see fights where Canelo, Benavidez and Morrell fight each other.

You don’t have to give him any benefit of any doubt, science already cleared his name, then after he was cleared and clean on vada 365, he went on to fight GGG Mexican style like team GGG asked him too, and won. What else you need?

[Robi13]

I completely disagree. While Benavidez is finally starting to show he's a legitimate top 3 168lber, assuming Canelo goes on to beat Benavidez, I don't think it'll rank any higher than his win over Danny Jacobs.

Canelo somehow rematching and beating Bivol - which I don't see happening - would rank far higher and do more for his legacy than beating Benavidez.

Beating Benavidez would rank up there in terms of his best wins but we won’t know until Benavidez career is over. It Benavidez loses and then goes on to have an amazing career well, that win becomes that much greater. Or if he never wins again then it’s not as great. In my opinion, canelos best win came against cotto, for the lineal middleweight title. Cotto is an ATG and just got beat by the younger bigger stronger ATG in canelo.