Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez poses as he sends John Ryder to the canvas (Picture: Getty Images)
It’s not looking like a good end to the year for British boxing’s heavyweight protagonists.
Daniel Dubois was on the wrong end of a controversial low blow decision against Oleksandr Usyk in Poland last month before being stopped in the ninth round.
The truth is he rarely threatened apart from the borderline shot to the Ukrainian’s stomach and looks far from the real deal.
Joe Joyce was annihilated for a second time by Zhilei Zhang in London at the weekend and his career is in tatters while Anthony Joshua was booed by fans in his last laboured ring outing before stopping Robert Helenius, a late replacement for Dillian Whyte who failed a drugs test.
AJ’s hoping to finally face Deontay Wilder in January but plans that have been five years in the making have been put on hold yet again after Saudi Arabia was ruled out as a potential venue.
Then there’s Tyson Fury, who is still active and giving it all the mouth but, instead of stepping up to the plate and treating fight fans to a box office battle with either Usyk or Joshua, his next appearance is a meaningless brawl with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
How depressing. It means boxing fans must look elsewhere for entertainment and there’s some solace with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez lacing up the gloves this weekend to battle Jermell Charlo, who is stepping up two divisions to face Mexico’s super-middleweight king.
Canelo, who has put his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line, didn’t look at his best when padding his record with a points victory over Britain’s John Ryder last time out.
In facing undisputed light-middleweight champion Charlo, who has both height and reach advantage, he’s facing a tough customer who will give it a real go so at least this is two warriors going head-to-head.
Unbeaten middleweight champion Jermell Charlo (Picture: Getty Images)
It has to be said that Charlo looks hugely impressive in the training pictures he has posted on social media but Canelo has faced heavier punchers in the past and will be typically patient before picking his opponent off with a late stoppage somewhere between rounds nine and 12. Get on at 8/1 with Bet Victor.
• Huddersfield are 14/5 with Sporting Index to gain a point from Darren Moore’s first game in charge when they visit Coventry for a Championship clash.
• Carla’s Way, second to subsequent winner Darnation last time out at Glorious Goodwood is 7/2 with bet365 for Friday’s Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.
MORE : Joe Joyce destroyed by Zhilei Zhang as rematch ends in early knockout
MORE : Tyson Fury promises ‘a fight for the ages’ as he takes on Francis Ngannou