Canelo Alvarez Claims He Would Have Knocked Floyd Mayweather Out In His Prime

Canelo Alvarez has claimed Floyd Mayweather wouldn't have faced him if both were in their primes, saying he'd have knocked the undefeated retired boxer out.

Right now there is no better, or more famous, boxer in the world than Canelo. He has very much taken over from Mayweather as the sport's big ticket fighter.

The two men faced in 2013, where 'Money' handed the Mexican his first, and still only, loss in professional boxing, with Canelo just 23-years-old.

There has long been discussion about the fact that the super middleweight world champion wasn't in his prime yet when he faced Mayweather, and how different the fight might have been if he was.

Canelo, who faces Billy Joe Saunders next week, has now answered that question himself, claiming he would hand the American his first loss but also saying the 44-year-old never would have fought him.

"He'd have nothing to do with me," Canelo told Graham Bensinger on his self-titled show, 'Alvarez.'

"If we were both at our prime, our best prime, he wouldn't anything do with me. Nothing.

"I'd knock him out."

"I wasn't the boxer I am today," the current pound-for-pound number one added, explaining why he lost, "For me, that moment hurt a lot. I got to thinking, I'm not going to let this kill my dreams.

"Someday I'm going to be the best boxer in the world. And now, today I am."

Whilst it is fair to say that Canelo wasn't at his prime yet, something opponents will be hoping he's now reached considering his current brilliance, his opponent also wasn't at his best.

Undefeated Mayweather was 37-years-old at the time and had already defeated the likes of Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley and Victor Ortiz years before, and was just two years from his retirement.

Canelo as well was already 23, had fought 43 times professionally, with only one draw, and was the Ring and WBC light middleweight world champion, so hardly a bad fighter at that point.

Mayweather and Canelo fought on the same card in 2012 before facing each other a year later. Image: PA Images

Whilst Canelo is getting ready to defend his titles against BJS, Mayweather will face Logan Paul in a money making exhibition fight in June.

Asked about that fight against the YouTuber, Canelo said, "It's about making money is all... It's really not relevant at all... It's stupid."

Then pushed on who will win, the Mexican added, "I think even the question is offensive: Mayweather, obviously."

On the topic of the recent spate of 'celebrities' boxing, he also bluntly added, "Why do they give licenses to people who've never in their life thrown a punch?

"If there's a death, the commission will be responsible. Why? Because they issued the license for the fight."

Topics: Logan Paul, Boxing, Canelo Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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