Is Saul Alvarez the future of boxing and Golden Boy? Or is he its present?
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Mar 2011
Saul Alvarez is only 20 years old and tonight he is a world champion. The youngest junior middleweight titleholder in boxing history. He just headlined a nationally televised card and filled the Honda Center in Anaheim, California with more than eleven thousand adoring audience and fans. Indeed, the wheels of boxing stardom are turning fast for the boxer nicknamed ?Canelo? or cinnamon in Spanish.
Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) president Oscar dela Hoya called him ?the next boxing superstar?. Hugely popular in his home country of Mexico, tonight was his coming out party in the U.S. With a carefully selected opponent, a top billing in HBO?s Boxing After Dark, and a series of fan-friendly promotions leading to the fight, the freckle face, fair skinned lad with red flocks is introduced to America. And he did not disappoint. He won in convincing fashion en route to the title. There was no knockouts as fans would want to see but a steady performance nonetheless. Given a durable opponent that is Matthew Hatton, Saul made the fight entertaining sans the knockout with heavy handed punches that landed at will. A win that saw him winning all rounds except an even 9-9 round in the seventh where a point was deducted from him for a punch while on break by the referee.
He is a great prospect indeed but a prospect that can attract eleven thousand fans in only his third fight in American soil is outstanding. If he is the future of boxing, then the future looks bright for him and Golden Boy Promotions who is his promoter. Golden Boy has long been searching for that next great fighter whom boxing-rabid Mexico will go crazy for. One that will follow the footsteps of the likes of Chavez, Sanchez, Lopez, Barrera, Morales and Dela Hoya. One that will bring in fans at any given date and at any given venue. Yes, it has the veteran Juan Manuel Marquez, but even with his outstanding abilities in the ring,he has failed to connect with Mexican fans. It has great hopes for Victor ?Vicious? Ortiz last year until he proved he wasn?t vicious enough against Marcos Maidana. Antonio Margarito is popular but is from rival Top Rank and so is up and coming Brandon Rios. The void is there for a Mexican fighter who can attract the attention and adoration of his countrymen. Saul, this early has done that and if he continues to win, will continually to do so.
Golden Boy does not have many fighters in its roster that attracts big fight. Its biggest fight last year involves Floyd Mayweather who is on a per-fight contract with them. Amir Khan and David Haye are potential draws owing to their following in England. Shane Mosley left this year to join Top Rank for a big money fight against Manny Pacquiao. Juan Manuel Marquez is rumored to do the same. Mayweather is on a continued hiatus after his May 2010 fight and who knows if he contracts GBP again for his next fight. GBP is in need of a fighter with superstar status in its roster and Saul can bring that to them if he hasn?t already. He isn?t tested yet with quality opponents but a rush to do so will put him in jeopardy. But if he is as good as they thought he is, it is not a bad strategy to fit him against the elite of the division. The better the opponents you beat, the better you are respected by the boxing world. The more famous the opponents are, the more recognition you get once you beat them. That will in return bring in the fans, the sold-out stadiums and the money. It is though a very risky strategy and I am sure GBP won?t follow it, maybe not yet at this time. They though need to expose him in rated competition. He is their future and they will take care of him with carefully chosen matches. He also is their present and they will chose the ones that will bring in recognition from the boxing watching public. The future is indeed looking bright for the both of them.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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