Canelo and Westbrook Dominate Their Sport

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

There are no better athletes in their respective sport today than Canelo Alvarez in boxing and Russell Westbrook in basketball. 

 

Saturday night, Alvarez continued to lay claim as the best “pound for pound” boxer after thoroughly dominating England’s Billy Joe Saunders. The eighth round TKO took Saunders WBO belt and added to Canelo’s WBC and WBA super middleweight titles. Meanwhile on the hard floor Westbrook continued to make history of his own. 

 

This past Monday night, Westbrook recorded his 182nd career triple double (10 or more points, rebounds and assists) eclipsing the record held by Oscar Robertson (“The Big O”) who held the record with 181 before he retired in 1974. What is even more amazing is that Westbrook has 36 triple doubles this year, 26 in his last 31 games. Robertson is a big fan of the man that broke his record calling out critics off Westbrook because in all of his accomplishments, Westbrook has not won a title. “I think he’s one of the elite guards in basketball, and I think it’s ridiculous that some sportswriters criticize him because he has not won a championship. Players don’t win championships by themselves.”

 

 

 

 

Canelo put on a clinic in front of a crowd of more than 73,000 at AT&T Stadium and saw his record improve to 56-1 (2 draws) and 38 KO’s. His only loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather. Canelo had only 19 fights when he stepped into the ring against Mayweather. Canelo used his jab, vicious uppercuts and devastating body shots in dominating the fight. At the end of the eighth round, Saunders could not see out of his right eye and his corner threw in the towel. Saunders lobbied to expand the ring from 20 to 22 feet to no avail as Canelo was never in danger. All three judges had him ahead when the fight was stopped. 

 

To put in perspective of what Westbrook has achieved, only two other players aside from Robertson have more than 100 triple-doubles in their career. Earvin (Magic) Johnson with 138 and Jason Kidd with 107. It is not unrealistic to think that Westbrook, if he stays healthy can get 200 triple-doubles before his career is over. LeBron James currently has 99 so he would become the 4th player to get to the century mark before he calls it quits. 

 

Think of the greatest athletes in any sport and the opinions will vary. Does a chip have to be won in order to be considered the best? The list is as long as the length of a football field of those individuals that have never won a ring. It doesn’t exclude them from being the best in their sport.

 

When all is said and done, Canelo Alvarez in boxing and Russell Westbrook in basketball will go down as the best in their era. One (Canelo) has the titles to prove it. The other (Westbrook) has a record that may never be broken. That is not an opinion. It’s a fact.