5 ONE Championship fighters who could box Canelo Alvarez

Canelo Alvarez has proven himself to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers in the world – and it is going to take a very special athlete to defeat him. However, that hasn't stopped several high-profile names from calling the 31-year-old out.

Alvarez is excellent at everything he does in the 'sweet science', and he has been crowned world champion multiple times across an array of weight divisions.

He can box opponents who are taller, more powerful, or famously unpredictable in the ring, and even on a bad day, he'll leave with his hand raised.

The man – dubbed the greatest of his generation – has faced tough competition in his ascent to the top. And given that he is still looking for his next opponent, we break down five ONE Championship fighters who could box with Alvarez if weight categories weren't part of the stipulation.

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#5. John Lineker

John ‘Hands of Stones’ Lineker loves to go toe-to-toe with his rivals in the circle. His aggressive style would also make for a highly-entertaining matchup against the multiple-time boxing world champion.

Lineker's fists have powered him to some classic knockouts against top MMA fighters like Kevin Belingon and Troy Worthen over the last couple of years.

His left hooks and sledgehammer-like overhand rights are his prized weapons. With 43 fights under his belt, Lineker would bring some experience if he boxed against Alvarez, who has picked up 39 knockouts from 57 wins.

Traditionally, Mexican boxers are known for their ruthless offensive attributes, but Alvarez is not all about the brawl. Despite being known for his offense, the 31-year-old is a very well-rounded boxer.

Even on nights where he doesn't seem at his best, the talented pound-for-pound boxer’s ability to stay one step ahead, counter through the smallest of openings, and sting in the latter rounds, often gets him past his rivals.

Lineker has fought until the final MMA bell in 19 outings. This record is similar to the boxing star, who has 18 wins by decision and one loss. His only career defeat came from Floyd Mayweather by way of the judges’ scorecard.

A boxer’s gas tank is known to be superior to an MMA fighter's, however, so that has to be taken into account. Then again, anything can happen in a fight, so John Lineker vs. Canelo Alvarez would be a good fight for combat sports fans worldwide.

#4. Xie Wei

Chinese MMA star Xie Wei is known as ‘The Hunter’ for a reason. Every time the 25-year-old is called for duty in ONE, he lights up the circle with his phenomenal striking abilities – mainly attributed to his knowledge of boxing

The Sunkin International Fight Club star has knocked out nine opponents in his career thanks to his heavy fists. He stays very light on his feet too, so he should be able to flourish in a boxing match against the Mexican superstar.

Weight, obviously, would be an issue here. But in an alternate universe where that doesn't have to be factored in, Xie Wei boxing Alvarez would line up to be quite a spectacle.

Hitting Alvarez means that Xie would have to absorb some damage along the way. But as far as boxing is concerned, both athletes would have fun trying to dispatch one another.

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#3. Chingiz Allazov

ONE Super Series kickboxing star Chingiz Allazov would have a good time boxing against Alvarez. The Georgian fighter owns 36 knockouts from 64 fights, a high ratio when you consider some of kickboxing’s top superstars don't have many finishes to their names.

The 28-year-old has picked up several world championship belts and is a sound boxer with respectable punching power. He also excels when he uses his reach and controls his opponents at the center of the ring.

Allazov knows how to put combinations together, and he throws the last punch of each combo with bad intentions – powerful and crisp.

On paper, the Georgian fighter has almost 6 centimeters over Alvarez. However, physical stature alone wouldn't be enough to trouble Alvarez. The best pound-for-pound boxer in the sport today is used to being the smaller man in his bouts.

Boxers like Caleb Plant and Callum Smith had a significant height and reach advantage over the Mexican boxer. However, even they found it troublesome to keep the intelligent and crafty Mexican at bay.

Allazov has shared the ring with some of the greatest names in the sport, and his defensive skills and flaws have been exposed countless times. It wouldn't take long for a smart guy like Alvarez to find his opening, and when he does, fans can expect the Mexican to unleash his trademark overhand right or relentless body attacks to finish the job.

#2. Nieky Holzken

Nieky Holzken versus Alvarez would have the whole world watching. Both men are arguably the finest athletes in their disciplines, and they both have huge followings and love to box.

The 38-year-old’s first martial arts skill is boxing, but Holzken only turned professional in the ‘sweet science’ in 2013. From then until 2018, the Dutchman competed 15 times, with his only defeat coming against Callum Smith. The Mexican icon also defeated Smith in December 2020 to claim the WBA, The Ring, and vacant WBC Super-Middleweight titles.

Holzken, known as ‘The Natural’, could certainly box with Alvarez if he is focused and manages to execute his fight plan to perfection. The Team Holzken star has a height and reach advantage over the Mexican. However, unlike the other tall and long opponents, Alvarez has faced, the Dutchman is smart when using his reach and shoots long straight lefts at the end of his jab.

‘The Natural’ closes gaps quickly, and arguably has the best footwork of the ONE stars on this list. He is crafty at creating angles and possesses a variety of combinations to the body and the head. In the world of kickboxing, there aren't many who can hold a candle to his boxing abilities.

Holzken has never faced an athlete like Alvarez. That lack of experience was clear in his clash against Smith, and it would likely be a similar time out for the Dutchman against a fighter of Alvarez’s caliber. However, if he made the necessary adjustments, fans should expect an interesting fight between the pair.

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#1. Giorgio Petrosyan

There are three defensive pillars in boxing – you can evade it by either dodging it or intercepting it with your technique, you can block a strike, or you can deflect a strike.

Giorgio Petrosyan is a master of all of these. The Italian-Armenian’s defensive tactics are unique and make him one of kickboxing’s all-time greats. He has never boxed in his career, but you could expect the Milan-based star to be a decent opponent for the Mexican.

‘The Doctor’ comes forward and unloads, and as a southpaw, he often targets his rival’s midsection before going upstairs, and stepping out. He also displays his defensive skills every time he comes forward, teasing opponents to engage with him.

However, those who have fallen victim to it will tell you that it's hard to hold back your attacks when he teases an opponent with his strikes. Simply because when Petrosyan is on full-on defensive mode, there is zero to no chance of anyone troubling him.

The man from Milan has a quick lead hook that he sets up in many ways, and he always follows it up with additional strikes.

Alvarez’s traits and strengths would certainly match up to Petrosyan. In a perfect world, where weight would not be a concern, this is one fight that every fan would want to watch.