Breaking Down Inoue vs Alvarez: Who’s Rising, Who’s Slipping, and Who’s Misunderstood

Naoya Inoue touched the canvas again last weekend. And just like that, people started asking if he’s done.

Really?

Look, I get it. When you’ve been labeled “The Monster,” and then get dropped by someone who’s not exactly a household name, people get jumpy. But Inoue didn’t fold — he got up and reminded everyone exactly why he’s still one of the most electrifying fighters in the sport. And if you think a moment like that somehow kills the idea of a dream matchup like Inoue vs Alvarez down the line (even hypothetically, pound-for-pound), you’re missing the bigger picture.

Yes, Ramon Cardenas caught him with a clean left and dropped him hard. But go watch what happened next — Inoue responded like a beast. He walked through fire and turned the heat up even higher.

Here’s the problem: people keep trying to turn Inoue into Manny Pacquiao. And that’s unfair. Pacquiao was a once-in-a-generation wild ride — jumping from 108 to 154 pounds and taking names at every stop. Inoue’s climbed through divisions, too, but expecting him to be a carbon copy of Manny is setting him up to fail.

He’s not Pacquiao. He’s Naoya Inoue. And that’s already damn impressive.

The Double Standard Is Real

The backlash Inoue gets is wild. When Nonito Donaire gave him hell a few years ago, folks said he looked vulnerable. Now that he’s taking a couple of clean shots at 122 pounds — against guys who came to fight, by the way — some people are acting like he’s suddenly washed.

Where’s this energy when bigger stars have off nights?

Floyd Mayweather got tagged by Marcos Maidana and had to adjust mid-fight. Pacquiao got dropped multiple times in his career. Even Muhammad Ali got dropped by Henry Cooper. What matters isn’t whether you fall — it’s what you do after.

Inoue keeps getting up, brushing it off, and wrecking whoever’s in front of him. You can’t teach that kind of resolve.

Stop Acting Like Featherweight Will Kill Him

Now the next conversation is whether Inoue can handle 126 pounds. People say things like, “If he gets hit like that at featherweight, he’s done.”

So what — he’s not allowed to get hit anymore?

Come on. Of course he’ll get touched. That’s part of the job. It’s boxing. Everyone gets hit. But if he carries his power up — and there’s no reason to believe he won’t — he’ll be just fine.

Is it going to be harder? Yeah. But he’s not stepping in there with giants. And let’s be honest: even when he gets cracked, Inoue doesn’t panic. He resets. He adjusts. He takes over.

That’s championship DNA.

Canelo: The Legend Still Standing, But Showing His Age

Then there’s Canelo Alvarez. The guy’s still winning, but… he’s just not Canelo anymore.

His win over William Scull was about as bland as it gets. And it wasn’t just the fans who felt it — even his own supporters were yawning. Canelo looked like a guy going through the motions.

Now to be fair, Scull wasn’t exactly there to fight. He was there to survive. He moved. He avoided exchanges. He did everything except try to win. And that kind of opponent makes everyone look bad.

Still, five years ago, Canelo might’ve figured out how to break him down. He would’ve made him pay for playing keep-away. This version of Canelo? He just followed him around the ring and collected rounds.

Is He Fading — Or Just Evolving

There’s a debate about what’s happening with Canelo right now. Some say he’s “carrying” opponents — that he’s taking it easy on guys and just doing enough to win. Others think he’s declining, plain and simple.

Honestly, it might be a bit of both.

He’s still a brilliant boxer. His timing is there. His defense is tight. But that snap? That fire? That desire to finish guys off? It doesn’t show up like it used to.

Add in the fact that he’s now 34 and has over 60 pro fights under his belt, and it’s no surprise he’s not the same. But he’s still world-class. He’s just not invincible anymore.

Meanwhile… Crawford’s Not Looking Sharp Either

Funny how everyone’s so focused on Canelo’s “slippage,” yet Terence Crawford didn’t exactly light the world on fire in his last fight either.

He fought Israil Madrimov, and for the first time in a while, Crawford looked… human. Not bad. Just not elite. His punches didn’t carry the same thud. His timing was off. And the weight clearly didn’t do him any favors.

You can tell Crawford didn’t want to risk a tune-up fight at 168 before facing Canelo — and who could blame him? He’s giving up size, strength, and experience. He probably knows one misstep at that weight could cost him everything.

But make no mistake — he’s still dangerous. And if you stack his performance against Madrimov next to Canelo’s showing against Scull, you can at least start to imagine Crawford pulling off the upset.

Devin Haney’s Winning… But Losing Fans Fast

And then there’s Devin Haney. A guy with world-class skills, a champion’s work ethic — and a growing army of bored fans.

After his last fight against Jose Ramirez, the complaints hit a new high. “He’s running.” “He doesn’t engage.” “He’s playing tag, not boxing.”

Are those fair takes? Maybe. Maybe not.

Haney’s footwork is elite. His jab is textbook. He knows how to win rounds. But boxing is still a spectator sport — and a guy who spends 36 minutes moving away isn’t going to make many highlight reels.

People want action. They want drama. They want knockouts. Haney is giving them tap-tap-tap and cruise control.

To hardcore fans, he’s just fighting smart. But to casuals, he’s fighting scared. And unfortunately, perception matters — especially when you’re trying to become a superstar.

Source: BoxingScene’s Midweek Mailbag: Naoya Inoue, Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney

What Happens Next

So where does this all go?

Inoue’s going to keep marching forward. He’s not afraid of the challenge — whether it’s MJ Akhmadaliev, Junto Nakatani, or even featherweight.

Canelo’s still good enough to beat most of the division, but the clock is ticking. If he wants to go out on top, the next 18 months are critical.

Crawford is stepping into the deep end. If he wins, it’ll be the biggest moment of his career. If he doesn’t, well… no shame in losing to a bigger guy.

And Haney? He’s at a crossroads. Keep winning the way he is, and he’ll stay undefeated — but don’t be surprised if the crowd keeps thinning out.

Final Word

Boxing’s always changing. Legends fade. Stars rise. Styles clash. And fans… well, fans love to debate.

But one thing’s for sure: whether you’re backing Inoue, frustrated with Canelo, or done with Haney — this sport never stops giving us something to talk about.

Read More: We Could’ve Gone to 15: Why Shohei Ohtani Chose Legacy Over Longevity