Abel Sanchez among those who consider Canelo No. 1 P4P

More and more, I’m seeing the world’s most famous redhead, Canelo Alvarez, getting top honors on folks’ pound-for-pound lists.

Oscar De La Hoya said Canelo has to be the top dog on the speculative list at the post-fight presser, after the Mexican pugilist-specialist played the ultra-patient predator and then dropped an anvil on the head of Sergey Kovalev two-plus minutes into round 11.

And you can add Hall of Fame-level trainer Abel Sanchez to the mix, as well. The Cali-based tutor told BLH that the 29-year-old with a 53-1-2 mark is his pound for pound number one.

OK, so, why? Why does Sanchez, who saw Canelo do 24 rounds with Gennadiy Golovkin, pick the Golden Boy boxer as his lead dog over Vasiliy Lomachenko and Terence Crawford?

“Résumé. He’s fought guys nobody else would fight,” Sanchez answered. ”Before this fight Kovalev’s name was seldom mentioned by other 175 elite, why now he was a bum? Although I am a bit disappointed that the attitude that I think was instilled in him in my gym — the style that made him the ‘Krusher’ — was put aside, I don’t understand why. A smart, stylish, technical boxer he is not and will never be.”

We touched on trainer Kevin Cunningham’s P4P list, then:

“I like Spence a lot, but would move him down to fourth, and two and three are interchangeable for me,” Sanchez said.

About Canelo’s next fight, I think maybe we see Canelo vs Munguia. What does Sanchez think of that one, if it gets made? A Mexican young gunner versus that young but ultra-seasoned technician?

“Still too early for Mungia, easy fight for Canelo, but he deserves it. They all can’t be against the elite. Mungia is at least five fights or three years from being at that level,” Sanchez declared. “He is a baby, with a lot future, but in my opinion is being rushed.”

Last thing, we will see Naoya Inoue fight Thursday, against respected competitor Nonito Donaire; where does Sanchez see the 18-0 Japanese boxer, a bantamweight standout, in the P4P mix?

Sanchez concluded thusly: “Strong fighter, will do well, has a bright future. The difference in the two is the fighters in the divisions are better in Canelo’s divisions than in Inoue’s.”

Now, what say you? Is Canelo number one pound-for-pound? Weigh in!