Memorable battles at 168 Pounds
On September 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez will defend his super middleweight world titles against the undisputed super welterweight world champion, American Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo.
Undisputed against Undisputed, a fight that is undoubtedly shaping up to go down in history. For this reason, the WBC have remembered just some of the best fights ever taken place at 168 pounds:
Mar 25th, 2023
David Benavidez W12 Caleb Plant
Las Vegas, Nevada
David “El Monstruo Mexicano” Benavídez retained his WBC interim super middleweight title, defeating brave and savvy former world champion Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant by UD at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Plant started the fight astutely, with lateral movement, fast jabs and effective, accurate counterpunching, often trailing his left lead low, and relying on his fast reactions, spinning off the ropes to avoid being trapped, by his pursuing opponent. Yet, after the halfway mark, “Monster” Benavidez was finding the range and adjusting to wear down Plant and take control of the fight. Left hooks and cascades of body punches were sinking in, taking effect and Plant's punch output lessened. But he simply refused to go down and the brilliant battle went all the way to the distance.
Nov. 6, 202
Canelo Alvarez TKO11 Caleb Plant
Las Vegas, Nevada
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez TKO'd Caleb Plant to seize the fourth and final belt and become the undisputed Super middleweight champion in spectacular fashion, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena thrilling more than 15,000 delighted live fans, many of them Mexicans, who witnessed a tremendous contest, in which he cut down the distance, slowed down the brisk pace of his wily, mobile, awkward opponent with a constant unrelenting body barrage attack, and then moved to the head, to inflict two knockdowns in a torrid 11 round, which emphatically closed the show.
May 8, 2021
Canelo Alvarez TKO8 Billy Joe Saunders
Arlington, Texas
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez knocked out Briton Billy Joe Saunders after eight hard rounds, handing him his first professional loss, in successfully and ruthlessly defending his cherished WBC belt, as well as the WBA super-middleweight titles, taking away Saunders' WBO belt, after administering gradual damage to Saunders at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The fluid, skillful, mobile Saunders was boxing beautifully until the pace and pressure of the Mexican gradually began to catch up with him until one single punch that visibly and audibly crushed the Brit's eye socket changed the fight completely.
Nov. 3, 2007
Joe Calzaghe W12 Mikkel Kessler
Cardiff, Wales
Joe Calzaghe is conisdered as one of the best 168 fighters in boxing history. The Pride from Wales, unified 3 of the titles in the division with this fight. In his successful career where he retired undefeated, he faced fighters like Chris Eubank, Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins, Robin Reid, Omar Sheika, Charles Brewer, Byron Mitchell, Jeff Lacy, Sakio Bika, Mikkel Kessler, among others.
Nov. 7, 1988
Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Donny Lalonde
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sugar Ray Leonard was knocked down in the fourth round and hurt several times during the fight. Donny Lalonde was much taller and stronger. He seemed to be in control and en route to a sensational victory. Lalonde hurt Leonard in the ninth and as he was trying to finish the fight Sugar magnificently rallied with an explosive attack, flooring Lalonde and then dramatically knocking him out to capture the Light Heavyweight and first ever Super Middleweight championship.
Article sponsored by HÖRFA