Tweet
Before I say this let me explain I am a huge fan if both fighters. I love the Cuban style of hit and don't get hit but I also love the Mexican style of boxing, as well as canelo's unorthodox Mexican style. I favoured Lara to win.
But I don't believe this was a robbery.
I scored it 115-113 in canelo's favour.
In the opening rounds Lara was comfortably throwing 1-2 combos while avoiding canelo. First three were definitely Lara's. 4th round I gave to canelo easily. 5th I gave to Lara although it was close. But rounds 6-10 and the last round were in canelo's favour while the 11th was Lara's.
Before anyone complains, no I am not a crazy Mexican fan and I am not a ****** casual who complains when a fighter uses defence in favour of offence. Lara was not "running," he was boxing. He was throwing clean, effective shots and moving out of the way to set up more shots. When I hear someone complain about Lara running all I see is "I'm annoyed that canelo couldn't cut off the ring." Lara had an initially good gameplan where he throws, moves away and throws again. Against someone like canelo that's the perfect thing to do. BUT HE WASN'T ACTIVE ENOUGH IN THE LATER ROUNDS.
Canelo started very slow and plodded around as I expected but he gradually wore Lara down with some pretty nasty bodyshots. Initially he showed little head movement. But as the fight continued Lara started to slow because of those bodyshots while canelo started making adjustments. He showed a bit more head movement but still took a few shots that he shouldn't have. Although he couldn't completely cut off the ring he eventually started landing combinations with relative ease. The big difference here is that canelo made adjustments but Lara didn't. Lara was schooling canelo for the first three but as canelo made adjustments Lara wasn't able to throw as many punches. And that's what tipped the fight in canelo's favour.
Now I know the punch stats show that Lara actually landed more than canelo but that is over the course of the whole match, not round by round. Canelo threw little in the first few while Lara threw a lot. Then canelo threw more in the later rounds while Lara threw less. Lara just wasn't active enough.
HOWEVER THERE IS ONE BIG PROBLEM WITH THE SCORECARDS.
There is no way, no way, that canelo won 117-111. No way. And that's where the problem lies. De la Hoya is definitely paying off judges to protect his cash cow. Trout, mayweather and now Lara. That's three fights now with dodgy scoring for canelo. People need to start calling out de la Hoya.
At the end of the day this was a great fight and I'm amazed at how canelo adjusted to what is probably the most awkward style for him to face. I think somewhere down the line there is potential for a rematch but Lara needs to show is that he can be more active. He needs to take a fight or two with another top contender and win in a dominant fashion to warrant a rematch. Canelo should try and fight cotto. Cotto weighed in at 155 for Martinez anyway so canelo should take this while he can make 155 because he can't make light middle anymore. But canelo NEEDS to improve his footwork. This match and the floyd fight showed that canelo isn't yet able to cut off the ring. If he learns to use his feet more he could become the most all round fighter today. And he's only 24 in a few days so he had time to develop.
TL
R- canelo made adjustments and was more active, Lara boxed brilliantly but wasn't active enough in the later rounds. And de la Hoya is corrupt.
But I don't believe this was a robbery.
I scored it 115-113 in canelo's favour.
In the opening rounds Lara was comfortably throwing 1-2 combos while avoiding canelo. First three were definitely Lara's. 4th round I gave to canelo easily. 5th I gave to Lara although it was close. But rounds 6-10 and the last round were in canelo's favour while the 11th was Lara's.
Before anyone complains, no I am not a crazy Mexican fan and I am not a ****** casual who complains when a fighter uses defence in favour of offence. Lara was not "running," he was boxing. He was throwing clean, effective shots and moving out of the way to set up more shots. When I hear someone complain about Lara running all I see is "I'm annoyed that canelo couldn't cut off the ring." Lara had an initially good gameplan where he throws, moves away and throws again. Against someone like canelo that's the perfect thing to do. BUT HE WASN'T ACTIVE ENOUGH IN THE LATER ROUNDS.
Canelo started very slow and plodded around as I expected but he gradually wore Lara down with some pretty nasty bodyshots. Initially he showed little head movement. But as the fight continued Lara started to slow because of those bodyshots while canelo started making adjustments. He showed a bit more head movement but still took a few shots that he shouldn't have. Although he couldn't completely cut off the ring he eventually started landing combinations with relative ease. The big difference here is that canelo made adjustments but Lara didn't. Lara was schooling canelo for the first three but as canelo made adjustments Lara wasn't able to throw as many punches. And that's what tipped the fight in canelo's favour.
Now I know the punch stats show that Lara actually landed more than canelo but that is over the course of the whole match, not round by round. Canelo threw little in the first few while Lara threw a lot. Then canelo threw more in the later rounds while Lara threw less. Lara just wasn't active enough.
HOWEVER THERE IS ONE BIG PROBLEM WITH THE SCORECARDS.
There is no way, no way, that canelo won 117-111. No way. And that's where the problem lies. De la Hoya is definitely paying off judges to protect his cash cow. Trout, mayweather and now Lara. That's three fights now with dodgy scoring for canelo. People need to start calling out de la Hoya.
At the end of the day this was a great fight and I'm amazed at how canelo adjusted to what is probably the most awkward style for him to face. I think somewhere down the line there is potential for a rematch but Lara needs to show is that he can be more active. He needs to take a fight or two with another top contender and win in a dominant fashion to warrant a rematch. Canelo should try and fight cotto. Cotto weighed in at 155 for Martinez anyway so canelo should take this while he can make 155 because he can't make light middle anymore. But canelo NEEDS to improve his footwork. This match and the floyd fight showed that canelo isn't yet able to cut off the ring. If he learns to use his feet more he could become the most all round fighter today. And he's only 24 in a few days so he had time to develop.
TL
R- canelo made adjustments and was more active, Lara boxed brilliantly but wasn't active enough in the later rounds. And de la Hoya is corrupt.
Comment