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The fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Álvarez, held on September 14, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, was one of the most anticipated boxing matches of the decade. The bout was dubbed “The One,“ as it featured two of the sport's biggest stars—Mayweather, an undefeated, defensive maestro, and Álvarez, a young, powerful Mexican fighter who was seen as the future of boxing. Pre-Fight Context Floyd Mayweather entered the fight with a perfect record of 44-0, having established himself as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, speed, and ring IQ, Mayweather had defeated many top fighters, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto. He was a five-division world champion and held titles in multiple weight classes. Canelo Álvarez, at just 23 years old, came into the fight with a record of 42-0-1, with 30 knockouts. Despite his youth, Canelo had already captured the WBC and The Ring light middleweight titles and was regarded as one of the brightest young talents in boxing. He was known for his powerful punching, body shots, and ability to cut off the ring. The fight against Mayweather was seen as his opportunity to prove himself on the biggest stage. The Fight From the opening bell, it was clear that Mayweather's experience and skill would be a significant challenge for the younger Álvarez. Mayweather utilized his trademark defensive style, using his shoulder roll to block and deflect Canelo's punches while landing sharp counterpunches of his own. His footwork and ring generalship were on full display, as he effectively controlled the distance, keeping Canelo at bay. Canelo, despite his power and determination, struggled to land clean punches on Mayweather. He found it difficult to cut off the ring and was often left swinging at air as Mayweather slipped and dodged his attacks. When Canelo did manage to get close, Mayweather would either tie him up or pivot out of range, nullifying any potential offense. Mayweather's jab was a key weapon throughout the fight, consistently snapping Canelo's head back and disrupting his rhythm. In addition to the jab, Mayweather landed crisp right hands and quick combinations, while Canelo's output and accuracy remained low. As the rounds progressed, it became increasingly clear that Mayweather was in control. Canelo did have some success in the middle rounds, landing a few body shots and the occasional right hand, but it was never enough to swing the momentum in his favor. Mayweather's superior conditioning allowed him to maintain his pace and effectiveness throughout the 12 rounds, while Canelo appeared to slow down as the fight wore on. Post-Fight and Scoring Controversy After 12 rounds, the fight went to the judges' scorecards. Two of the judges scored the fight 117-111 and 116-112 in favor of Mayweather, while the third judge, C.J. Ross, controversially scored the fight a 114-114 draw. The majority decision in Mayweather's favor was widely seen as generous to Canelo, with most observers believing that Mayweather had won by a wider margin. The controversy surrounding Ross's scorecard led to significant criticism, and she ultimately stepped down from judging after the fight. Despite this, Mayweather's victory was undisputed, and he added Canelo's WBC and The Ring light middleweight titles to his collection.
