Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Alvarez: 5 Biggest Advantages for the Underdog

A fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is usually a daunting task for anybody. He has the speed and skills to make opponents look incompetent.

Mayweather has been accused of feasting on opponents who were past their primes. This has gone on for years with a lot of criticism towards Mayweather. He will finally be facing a young and strong opponent who is a legitimate threat to him. That fighter is Canelo Alvarez.

Alvarez may have the skill set to rise up for the monumental task of defeating Mayweather.  He has certain advantages over Mayweather. Alvarez must exploit them if he hopes to have any chance of defeating Mayweather on September 14.

Honorable Mentions

Fan Support

Fans would love to see Mayweather lose. There will be many Hispanic fans coming to the fight considering it is Independence Day weekend for Mexico. The energy in the crowd should provide Alvarez with a boost.

Mayweather’s Showboating

Mayweather has a tendency to stay on the ropes and mock his opponents. He does this a lot and has gotten away with it in the past. This plays into Alvarez's hands because he wouldn't have to hunt him down. Mayweather could have a hard time getting off the ropes because Alvarez would be punching him constantly. 

Father Time

It will be mentioned that Mayweather is getting older and is not what he used to be. He hasn’t shown signs of aging yet, but that could happen anytime.

Power

Alvarez is the bigger puncher in this fight without question. In spite of the catch weight of 152, he will keep his power intact. Usually, fighters improve their power as they move down in weight. It will help Alvarez hit with even more power. 

He can hit with both hands and his punches are thrown with good technique. He knows how to generate maximum leverage on his punches. His jab is thrown with power and it sets up the other punches. 

He has a good right hand, but it is his left hook to the body that should concern Mayweather. Alvarez likes to throw it often and is accurate with it. It is by far, his most effective weapon. It will be the key in slowing Mayweather down.

Alvarez has shown one-punch knockout ability in the past with the Carlos Baldomir fight. That being said, he usually wins by accumulating damage over the course of a fight. He still has a huge power advantage over Mayweather and needs to get him in range in order to use it.

Physical Prowess

Alvarez is a bigger fighter physically than Mayweather. He knows to use his size effectively by pushing opponents around. He leans on them in clinches and uses his strength. That enables him to overpower opponents and gradually wear them down.

Mayweather likes to operate in the center of the ring and box on his toes. Alvarez has to use his physical strength to push Mayweather to the ropes in order to stop him from doing that. If Mayweather is on the ropes, Alvarez can start throwing his body punches.

Alvarez has to keep Mayweather on the ropes in order to wear him down. He can't win a boxing match with Mayweather. He has to outfight him. Keeping on the ropes will be an essential part of his game plan. 

The catch weight should not affect Alvarez that much because he is usually in good shape and trains hard. This work ethic as well as his youth will prepare him for the pace he will have to set against Mayweather. 

Youth

Alvarez is only 23 years old. He has gotten better with each fight and his learning curve is excellent for a young fighter. His technique is vastly improved. He also has gotten better at making important adjustments during fights. There is more room for him to improve than Mayweather can at this point in their respective careers. 

Mayweather is 36 years old and is getting up there in age. Mayweather is already set in his ways and will keep doing what he is comfortable with. He is at the point where his speed could erode just enough for Alvarez to catch him.  

Eventually, an athlete's body gives out no matter how great they are. There have been some signs of Mayweather slipping in previous fights. Alvarez is fast and skilled enough to take advantage of any signs of regression that Mayweather may have.

He will be excited for the event because he has never been in a fight of this magnitude. That youthful energy will help him. He is going to have to take a lot of punches in order to pull the improbable off.

Chin

Alvarez is going to take a lot of punches from the faster Mayweather. Mayweather throws combinations and is very accurate with them. Alvarez has the chin to take shots from a smaller fighter. He has already tasted his fair share of them in the past. 

Alvarez has never been knocked down in 43 pro fights. He has taken punches from bigger fighters and has walked right through them. Mayweather has been hurt in the past by smaller fighters. Most notably by Shane Mosley in the second round in their fight. 

Overall, Mayweather has a decent chin. He has rarely been hurt when a clean blow lands. However, it has been proven that he can be hurt by someone who lacks Alvarez's power.

Even with the speed differential, Alvarez will be upright for the whole fight because of his physical prowess and ability to take a shot. It will keep him in the fight, but he will have to dig deep. That is because he will have to go through incredible adversity in order to win the fight.

Determination/Heart

The Austin Trout fight showed what Alvarez is made of. It was his biggest test and he passed it with flying colors. A hard fight with a good veteran titleholder in a unification bout. It showed the world what Mayweather can expect from Alvarez. 

Alvarez has incredible determination that will help him stay focused in his biggest moment. It will not waver under any circumstances. He will be hungry to prove himself against the best fighter in the world.

That obsession with proving himself will give him the emotional boost that he needs. He will undoubtedly be tested by Mayweather in the early rounds. Therefore, his willpower will be the key in overcoming adversity in those moments.

If he can weather the early storm, he may be able to break Mayweather down. He needs to fight smart, stay active and be focused at all times. If he can do all those things, Alvarez has a good chance of winning the fight.