It’s one of those recurring discussions in boxing that surfaces now and then. Tough fights and brutal slugfests invariably take their toll. It’s widely thought that Tyson Fury‘s back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk last year were a consequence of the wear and tear from his battles with Deontay Wilder. Now a similar discourse seems to have emerged around Canelo Alvarez.

With the recent fight against William Scull behind him and a major showdown with Terence Crawford looming, whispers have emerged about whether the 36 rounds he exchanged with Gennady Golovkin have taken a toll on Canelo. If we consider what Tom Loeffler, an experienced boxing promoter who managed Golovkin among many others, has said, it appears, spanning from 2017 to 2022, those three wars may have slowed the Mexican star down. Given the skeptics who are increasingly backing Crawford’s chances to dethrone the undisputed super middleweight king on September 13, that is not the news many fans would like to hear.

Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin: Hard-fought duels that left their mark

An Instagram post from ‘Quetzalcoatl Boxing’ featuring images from the Canelo-Golovkin fights included a quote from Loeffler. Though originally in Spanish, a rough translation reads, “You could say that Canelo came down less after the three fights with GGG; it was very tough.”

Loeffler, who has worked with several Hall of Famers, including James Toney and Laila Ali, pointed out that facing a relentless puncher like Golovkin for 36 rounds is a monumental challenge. Nonetheless, in the end, Loeffler reserved an appreciation for Canelo.

“Canelo showed a strong jaw by resisting 36 rounds to Gennady” 🎙,” he seems to have mentioned. Loeffler’s remarks drew mixed reactions. One user argued that Canelo’s supposed decline only started after he faced Dmitry Bivol. They insisted that Canelo continued to hold his own after the trilogy with Golovkin.

Probably the user overlooked that the final fight between Canelo and Golovkin took place just four months after the Bivol loss.

Different strokes for different folks, preparing for what lies ahead

Regardless of the nuances, Loeffler’s point deserves careful consideration. If by ‘came down‘ he meant a reduced knockout power, that could be partly true. Canelo’s last KO victory was four years ago when he outboxed Caleb Plant to become the undisputed champion. Since then, his fights have mostly gone the distance.

However, if performance is measured by overall ring dominance, Canelo has fared quite well. Setting aside debates about his choice of opponents, since his Cinco de Mayo 2023 fight against John Ryder, Canelo has largely outboxed opponents like Jermell Charlo, Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga, and most recently, William Scull.

The challenge ahead is different. Canelo is facing an opponent unlike any he has faced before. Crawford may not be a heavy hitter like Golovkin. However, his ring IQ and technical skills surpass those of most contemporary boxers. The Nebraskan switch-hitter and former undisputed champion will bring a tough fight.

With just four months left before the showdown, Canelo must be fully prepared. He cannot let the shadows of past battles, including those against Golovkin, cloud his present focus.

What’s your take on Tom Loeffler’s statement?