Canelo Alvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders betting odds, preview, and pick
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire)
April 8th, 2021
Like Santa Claus and Christmas, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is preparing to ring in the Cinco de Mayo weekend with a title unification clash against Billy Joe Saunders.
Ahead of their May 8 showdown, let's break down the big fight to make you the big winner on fight night.
Canelo may be unstoppable at 168
There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight to Alvarez’s impressive run, and his recent performances against Callum Smith and Avni Yildirim have emphasized his status as the super middleweight division's best fighter.
He has his sights set on becoming an undisputed champ, so fate has finally drawn him toward longtime division rival Saunders. Now the obstacles and circumstances that prevented them from fighting in the past have cleared out of the way.
Saunders had been considered a legitimate threat to Alvarez, but considering Alvarez’s evolution as a fighter, that may no longer be the case.
Alvarez vs. Saunders tale of the tape
| Saul Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KO) | Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KO) |
|---|
30 | Age | 31 |
5’8” | Height | 5’11” |
70.5” | Reach | 71” |
5-0, 3 KO | Last five fights | 5-0, 2 KO |
Combination punching | Key intangibles | Slick defense |
Saunders is not known for bringing his "A" game
Saunders has shown shades of brilliance in the past, but he has also earned the reputation of an underachiever, being lazy, or just holding out for a major payday. The two-division champion is light on his feet and, when he’s at his best, can be hard to hit.
The key to defeating Alvarez is to overpower or frustrate him. Because Saunders doesn’t have much power, he’ll have to rely on elusiveness and cunning to pull off a massive upset.
Canelo will win another title by KO
When Alvarez fought Erislandy Lara, a supreme tactician, Alvarez grinded out a narrow victory with punch volume. Saunders is nowhere near as skilled as Lara, and his lack of inspiring performances makes him a clear underdog.
Saunders isn’t strong enough or slick enough to keep Alvarez off him. It wouldn’t be uncharacteristic for Saunders to come up ahead after the first four rounds, but by then, Alvarez will take more liberties with his offense, when he discovers Saunders’ lack of power.
Alvarez will begin to cut off the ring and drown Saunders with activity, and he will save his explosive power for when Saunders begins to slow down. Once Alvarez begins to connect, Saunders may opt to retreat or retire in his corner.
Alvarez will work Saunders over and stop him in the later rounds.
Boxing free pick: Alvarez
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