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I wouldn't exactly say a 'gift'...but I would agree that Sergei would have a very tough time winning the fight on the cards, regardless of what he did. I think it is possible to get him to 7 rounds (live I had it 6-6 so can't be mad if someone found 7 for Sergei). On rewatch I don't think Sergei's activity advantage was as great as I originally thought and I scored it 7-5 to GGG.
I think Sergei looked better than expected and worked GGG as much as anyone has, so I think there were some bonus points thrown his way a little bit, but not much. Contrast that to say Canelo, who would get outworked by GGG almost every round but some try and give him 7 or so rounds one or either of those fights. I think many who don't like GGG seem to only score his opponent's work and not his.
He fought a hell of a fight and if not for the KD and for GGG landing some big shots throughout some of the rounds where he was getting outworked, it could have been a more decisive result for Sergei.
I'm pretty sure that I've seen that most still feel GGG won the 2nd fight as well. And then about half of the rest feel it was a draw and then the rest feel it was a Canelo win. Like 60-20-20.
As I've said before, I just don't see how anyone can find 6 or 7+ rounds for Canelo in either fight. He got outworked almost every round, and I can't find one round in either fight where he outworked GGG and landed the best shot or shots of the round - which would make it a clear round for him.
I don't hate Canelo at all. I was impressed with him in both fights to be honest. I thought his stamina would let him down in fight 1 but he boxed well enough, just lost 8-4, no shame in that. That's still a good fight.
Fight 2 he fought even better but still with limited output and I ended up with the same 8-4 score to GGG. But Canelo held the ring with GGG all night, and that was something we've never seen before. I was impressed, but I still have to score GGG's work just like I score Canelo's.
I think Canelo was in his prime vs GGG in those fights; GGG I don't think he was. It is arguable when GGG's prime was. I think he has aged well enough, but I would say about 30-33 was his prime, where his physical was still basically all there and the mental was at a high level.
I don't think GGG was tremendously off of his peak for the Canelo or Jacobs fights though. Those 3 fights were against guys who were somewhat slick, could punch, could box, and were determined to go 12 rounds. I had all 3 fights 8-4 to GGG so I don't think that is a big difference from what those may have been earlier in GGG's career against those same guys.
It took him 8 rounds to break down Lemieux and Stevens, and 7 for Adama and Rosado. 11 for Murray. Even 10 for Ouma (though that may have been before his top level; but I think Ouma was tough as nails and had a decent gameplan to win, though he paid for it dearly with his health).
GGG's talent is not necessarily being this 1 punch monster; but he was a break you down fighter who would wear you down with volume, and every punch seemed to hurt. And he would always score with his jab, which is a great punch. So him winning every round while breaking down Lemieux or Stevens in 8; I don't see him tremendously off that level by imo winning 8-4 vs Jacobs and Canelo and breaking them down, just not at the same level. But those 2 guys are 2 levels above Lemieux and 3 above Stevens.
But yeah I don't see how Canelo could be much better in a few years than what he is. Mainly because he has already been pro for like 15 years and his body is seemingly starting to fail him. To me Canelo-GGG was Canelo 100% prime vs GGG 85-90%. I don't know what Canelo will be in 5-6 years but I fear he may be retired at that point.
I think Sergei looked better than expected and worked GGG as much as anyone has, so I think there were some bonus points thrown his way a little bit, but not much. Contrast that to say Canelo, who would get outworked by GGG almost every round but some try and give him 7 or so rounds one or either of those fights. I think many who don't like GGG seem to only score his opponent's work and not his.
He fought a hell of a fight and if not for the KD and for GGG landing some big shots throughout some of the rounds where he was getting outworked, it could have been a more decisive result for Sergei.
I'm pretty sure that I've seen that most still feel GGG won the 2nd fight as well. And then about half of the rest feel it was a draw and then the rest feel it was a Canelo win. Like 60-20-20.
As I've said before, I just don't see how anyone can find 6 or 7+ rounds for Canelo in either fight. He got outworked almost every round, and I can't find one round in either fight where he outworked GGG and landed the best shot or shots of the round - which would make it a clear round for him.
I don't hate Canelo at all. I was impressed with him in both fights to be honest. I thought his stamina would let him down in fight 1 but he boxed well enough, just lost 8-4, no shame in that. That's still a good fight.
Fight 2 he fought even better but still with limited output and I ended up with the same 8-4 score to GGG. But Canelo held the ring with GGG all night, and that was something we've never seen before. I was impressed, but I still have to score GGG's work just like I score Canelo's.
I think Canelo was in his prime vs GGG in those fights; GGG I don't think he was. It is arguable when GGG's prime was. I think he has aged well enough, but I would say about 30-33 was his prime, where his physical was still basically all there and the mental was at a high level.
I don't think GGG was tremendously off of his peak for the Canelo or Jacobs fights though. Those 3 fights were against guys who were somewhat slick, could punch, could box, and were determined to go 12 rounds. I had all 3 fights 8-4 to GGG so I don't think that is a big difference from what those may have been earlier in GGG's career against those same guys.
It took him 8 rounds to break down Lemieux and Stevens, and 7 for Adama and Rosado. 11 for Murray. Even 10 for Ouma (though that may have been before his top level; but I think Ouma was tough as nails and had a decent gameplan to win, though he paid for it dearly with his health).
GGG's talent is not necessarily being this 1 punch monster; but he was a break you down fighter who would wear you down with volume, and every punch seemed to hurt. And he would always score with his jab, which is a great punch. So him winning every round while breaking down Lemieux or Stevens in 8; I don't see him tremendously off that level by imo winning 8-4 vs Jacobs and Canelo and breaking them down, just not at the same level. But those 2 guys are 2 levels above Lemieux and 3 above Stevens.
But yeah I don't see how Canelo could be much better in a few years than what he is. Mainly because he has already been pro for like 15 years and his body is seemingly starting to fail him. To me Canelo-GGG was Canelo 100% prime vs GGG 85-90%. I don't know what Canelo will be in 5-6 years but I fear he may be retired at that point.
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