I'm not gonna ask better, because it's a ridiculous question. Lopez was a better fighter than Canelo by leaps and bounds. Has Canelo gotten enough done to be remembered as greater?
Leaps and bounds? Please. The question of "better" is debatable. The question of "greater," is not - Canelo is by far greater.
Lopez for me is greater, since he has actual blow out, domination wins over solid guys, and dominated a division for a decade. Canelo has just weight jumped (juiced) but when you dissect his opponents, he caught most of them at the opportune time for him. But yeah, very curious to hear what Canelo does better than a prime Lopez.
Im a Finito fanboy so my first instinct is to say Lopez without hesitation. I think he does almost everything better than Canelo skillwise. However, I can see why people would rank Canelo over Lopez. It’s all about what you’re impressed with more, dominating a single division and retiring unbeaten or weight jumping while also becoming undisputed in one division. Take your pick.
I think Lopez is more skilled, Canelo is tougher mentally and physically. I'd wager Canelo, pound-for-pound, is more athletically gifted as well - more explosive, quicker hands, definitely stronger - but Lopez was just a much better all round technician. Canelo does a few things really well - or did, I should say, he's gotten away from a lot of it - but he isn't the technician Lopez was. However, Canelo is easily greater at this point IMO. He's just done so much more at a higher level, with a much higher level of competition.
Lopez was more skilled. Possibly more well rounded than Canelo. Lopez had text book qualities about him. Lopez is a better fighter but Canelo has a greater legacy. I like what Flo raiden said. It depends what you value more. Is it weight jumping? Capturing as many titles in as many weight classes as your body will allow? Or is it longevity? Staying put and dominating a weight class against the very best contenders for many years. If we look back in history what has held more weight in terms of legacy? Weight jumping or dominating one weight class? I've heard people criticize Canelo for cherry picking guys like Rocky Fielding and Kovalev but have also seen fans criticize Lopez for not daring to move up and get out of his comfort zone.
In all seriousness though Canelo is the definitive answer for me. Setting aside my Lopez bias I think many would agree that Canelo is undeniably greater than Finito. Say what you will about some questionable decisions gone into his favor he still managed to do things that people didn’t think he would. Being the first undisputed 168 fighter and also the first Mexican undisputed champ since Olivares is quite an achievement. Also having beaten a quality fighter like GGG far outweighs any of Lopez’s best wins. Canelo will be remembered more as the greater fighter.
I agree with this. Canelo probably has better head movement as well. More athletically gifted as well. Lopez is the more ‘correct’ technician and has better footwork. I’ll take wins over GGG, Lara, Kovalev, Plant, Saunders over wins over Rosendo Alvarez, Sanchez, Vorapin, Ohashi, Sorjaturong.
