Maxboxing 2019 Fighter of he Year: Canelo Alvarez

When I first considered who to name “Fighter of the Year” for 2019, Canelo Alvarez wasn’t my first choice.

Naoya Inoue, Errol Spence Jr, and especially Manny Pacquiao, were in my year-end sights. Josh Taylor was there, as was Emanuel Navarrete, who went old- school this year, fighting four times and scoring four knockouts. I really like the WBO super bantamweight champion.

I returned to Canelo after having a nice chat with my good friend Jeremiah Pressier of The Grueling Truth Sports Network. Pressier mentioned “level of competition.”

Alvarez fought Danny Jacobs earlier this year, and Sergey Kovalev in the fall. Jacobs is a former champion. “The Miracle Man” is a talented and athletic fighter. He can crack with both hands.

A number of people thought he beat Gennady Golovkin a few years ago. Alvarez outfought Jacobs over 12 competitive rounds. The decision, unique in some of Alvarez’s fights, wasn’t in doubt.

Back to the point that Pressier made. Jacobs is a better fighter than any of the opponents, Messrs. Inoue, Spence, Pacquiao, Taylor, and Navarrete faced. Inoue went to hell and back with former titleholder Nonito Donaire in Maxboxing’s “Fight of the Year.”

Spence defeated a sluggish Mikey Garcia, but looked good in defeating Shawn Porter. Pacquiao’s victory over Keith Thuman was pretty damned amazing for the 40-year-old senator. Taylor edged Regis Prograis in a barn-burner, while Navarrete was impressive in all of his fights.

Alvarez finished his 2019 campaign by jumping two weight divisions to throw hands with light heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev, last month. I know, I know. Kovalev is aging faster than a carcass in the heat, but he can still fight. Just ask Anthony Yarde, whom Kovalev knocked out with a jab.

The fight with Kovalev was tight. The much bigger light heavyweight boxed, while Alvarez stalked.

Things changed abruptly is round 11. Alvarez checked Kovalev with a left hook, and knocked the Russian spark out with a right hand.

Impressive stuff.

Canelo Alvarez is the Maxboxing 2019 Fighter of the Year.