Who Won the Weekend? UFC Gets Some Votes, But Canelo Gets The W

It wouldn't be boxing if things went clean and smooth and there was no beefing, scrapping, arguing, critiquing…Boxing is THE DRAMA SHOW of all sports, and but of course, we had that during the week and then fight night provided the same.

Promotional soap operatics, then social media insurrection from angry fans irked that boxing was kowtowing to UFC…then a strategic tango punctuated by a pound of flesh finish which, happily, gave us a conclusive finale which allowed us to skip the too typical roasting of crap judges which we're all too familiar with.

Canelo Alvarez, now at the top of my pound for pound list, because of the quality of opposition and successful search and destroy missions in various weight classes, gets top honors in the Who Won the Weekend poll. Here's what the others in the NFY Squad, and extended fam, had to say.

Every week, the NYF Squad weighs in, and shares who they think Won the Weekend.

“Although Canelo Alvarez' savage knockout will be the winner this weekend in the sport of boxing, the UFC actually won the whole weekend,” said Abe Gonzalez. “They brought in massive star power to the event by way of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (who's IG post was viewed 14 plus million times) and President Trump (below, with UFC boss Dana White.)

Johnson then comes out with the BMF belt further solidifying the belt and the event. The UFC PPV held up the main event in Vegas and was even played inside the MGM Grand Arena. The fact that the Canelo vs Kovalev fight was held up until the end of the UFC main event is something that will surely be discussed for a while. Hopefully, DAZN learned their lesson because the fans were not pleased.”

“Canelo Alvarez won the weekend,” said Kelsey McCarson. “Not only did he move up to beat Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight belt, but he did it by walking him down and knocking him out. What an amazing performance by one of the best fighters in the world. There's no doubt that Alvarez should be considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world today after that terrific performance.”

Superstar Canelo Alvarez walks to the ring at MGM Nov. 2, 2019. Amanda Westcott picture, for DAZN.

“There's a term known as Occam's Razor. Basically, it says the most obvious answer is probably the right one. Well, the most obvious answer is Canelo Alvarez for who won the weekend,” said David Phillips. “Who not only finished a very competitive fight in style, he did at a new weight class against a champion opponent. There was a lot of back and forth in the fight – which was to be expected with two guys who can sometimes have stamina issues and take parts of rounds off. But when the time came to make a statement, Alvarez showed that his power came up with the added weight, landing a devastating array of punches before closing with a right cross that crumpled the Krusher. For a long time, Canelo has been on the P4P list, but seldom in the discussion for the number one spot. That ended last night. He's not only in the discussion, he's full-on legendary now.”

“The UFC won the weekend for me,” said Chris Glover. “They promoted an event so well that it was unmissable for the casual fans that boxing is looking to attract these days. The event was so unmissable that it forced boxing’s biggest attraction (apparently) to work around their schedule. The UFC won the weekend for me.”

“Alvarez won the weekend with a title in his fourth weight class and another devastating knockout victory,” said Tommy Rainone. “Along with the Kirkland and Khan KOs this one will go at the top of his highlight reel.”

“There's no doubt about it, this weekend belonged to Canelo Alvarez,” said Jeremy Herriges. “He was very cautious for 10 rounds against Kovalev, but he was looking for the right time to strike. Alvarez found it and added a highlight-reel knockout to his body of work. Kovalev isn't the same fighter he was three years ago, but Alvarez's emphatic knockout was enough to vault him to the top of my pound-for-pound list. 2? That's an uncanny attribute, which is why he is the face of boxing.”

“In a sport where perception is everything, Canelo certainly won the weekend,” said Alden Chodash. “But in retrospect, his achievement also had plenty to do with how Canelo and GBP manufactured this event as Canelo’s “historic” moment: being the first to simultaneously holding titles in three weight classes. Well for one, that’s historically incorrect, as “Hammerin” Hank Armstrong held three undisputed championships simultaneously at a time where that almost accounted for half of the boxing landscape. Canelo won the WBO 175 pound strap against a fighter a little more than 2 months off of a bruising fight against Anthony Yarde, compounded with one who had to abide by a rehydration clause after he struggled to make weight. Surely Kovalev…

Sergey Kovalev waits to get the call for his ring walk Nov. 2. (Amanda Westcott picture)

..showed flashes of the revitalized boxing ability he displayed against Yarde and Alvarez, but Canelo’s knockout doesn’t make him a killer at 175 anymore than it makes his victory a “historic” occasion. But it did show he’s a damn good fighter, potentially one of the best P4P in the world. And for that he won the weekend.”