Canelo’s split decision win over Lara is just, but the sweet science of boxing is no more.

On July 12th at the MGM Grand Arena a place that’s been the battleground and location for many classic encounters, was again the place where the boxing world witnessed another classic. Only this time it was a classic clash of styles. Mexican brawler Saul “Canelo” Alvarez won a split points decision over Cuban slick boxing, Erislandy Lara in 115-113, 113-115, 117-111 win.

Now before I get into it, let me just say as I usually do, I watched the fight twice and I scored it a draw. BUT, I’m not mad at the judges who scored it 115-113 for either fighter because it is an interpretation of what you like and the fight was that close.

However, a 117-111 scorecard in favour of Canelo Alvarez is just ludicrous and quite frankly something we have come to expect in boxing judges of late.

Under no circumstances was that fight a 9 rounds to 3 win for Alvarez, regardless if it was in front of a partisan Mexican crowd.

Credited Erislandy Lara did do more moving than fighting and to me he should have planted his feet more and thrown a few more punches, instead of trying to cruise to victory or steal rounds. But when he did put his punches together they were precise, accurate and looked better than the work Canelo was doing.

This is why I was baffled by the wide scorecard. I mean, that was no more of a 117-111 than it was a draw for Canelo against Floyd Mayweather on judge CJ Ross‘ card.

I think as the generation has changed, the emergence of the macho, brawl for all style of the UFC has changed fans of contact sports. The essence of boxing, the sweet science is to hit and not be hit. I feel that is becoming a dying art form and the people who do demonstrate that art are not getting the recognition as they should.

Let’s not forget, though the UFC is mixed martial arts, cage fighting became popular and was born out of brawler’s who were tough and strong but did not have much skill, in terms of movement and slick hands etc. Although it has changed considerably over the years, that is its roots.

Don’t get me wrong, if you know me then you know I am a huge fan of the UFC but I think it has clouded the eyes of fight fans who don’t want to see or appreciate a boxing chess match with superior movement, defensive abilities with slick hand speed, they just want to see a brawl. Although the UFC did have a similar issue at their inception with Royce Gracie. Who was a more tactical, wrestling cage fighter that fans didn’t appreciate at first.

The UFC is the UFC and boxing is boxing. Both are two highly competitive and tough, similar sports but both have different skill sets.

So the likes of Mayweather, Andre Ward, Rigondeaux, Lara’s and few others who have a similar style, are not fully appreciated for their superior skill set today, as they would have been in maybe a decade or longer ago and are just labelled boring.

This could be the reason for these crazy, outrageous scorecards which mostly go against boxers who practice the sweet science of boxing.

To me if the sport of boxing is dying, then the lack of respect or appreciation for the boxers who demonstrate the sweet science of boxing is the real reason why the sport is dying. Styles make fights but also the battle of different styles is exactly what boxing is about.