Why boxing is my dear, beloved mistress (Photos)
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 27 Jun 2013
CHICAGO -- By the time I got to the Chicago Theatre around 4:20 yesterday afternoon, a sea of humanity had already wrapped all over this city's famous landmark on 175 north State street, each soul eager to witness a part of the Floyd Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez 11-city tour to drum up their upcoming September 14 showdown.
Open to the public, some fans fell in line hours before the theatre gates opened at 5 pm. Steve, a well-built man with a wrestler's arms, was among the security officers who kept the lines and the people in order. He told me that all the free tickets -- 3,500, give or take a few -- were already handed out.
As soon as the doors opened, fellow PhilBoxing.com writer John Aldwin Mahipos and I checked in at the media entrance before quickly occupying seats closest to the stage.
It was a show-stopper, a heart-pounding thrill. I had goose bumps watching the well-run spectacle unfold, and it reminded me that while the NBA is my first love, boxing will always be a dear, beloved mistress.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is disarmingly good-looking, the kind you'd see on the glossy pages of a fashion magazine. But don't be fooled, this 22-year old with a preacher's innocence maims people for a living. And blessed with a pair of murderous fists, this 5-foot-9 brawler from Guadalajara is undefeated in 43 fights with 30 knockouts.
As soon as Canelo, his red hair glinting under the lights, entered the stage, the theatre erupted with the deafening chants of "Ca-Ne-Lo, Ca-Ne-Lo!!!!" and "Me-Xi-Co!!, Me-Xi-Co!!!"
At 5-foot-8, 146 pounds, Mayweather is larger than life, thanks to his celebrity and his deserved acclaim as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound. Also unbeaten, 44-0 with 26 KOs, the 36-year old Mayweather was a master showman who drowned the boos hurled against him by simply shouting "hard work!! hard work!!" while his out-numbered supporters chimed back "dedication!!! dedication!!!"
Top photo: The author (L) poses with Mexico's Canelo Alvarez in Chicago Wednesday.
Fans line up for the Mayweather-Alvarez presscon in Chicago.
Canelo takes a ride for the fans.
Floyd Mayweather takes questions from the media.
If you didn't know he was a fighter, you'd think Mayweather was a diamond dealer. Every jewelry he wore -- ring, watch, necklace and pendant -- was decadently encrusted with the earth's most expensive natural mineral.
But love him or hate him, Money Mayweather is good to the fans. After talking to the media, Floyd stayed on the stage and signed as many items as he could until the organizers told him it was time to go.
In an era where champions duck worthy challengers and sanctioning bodies fight over fighters and fees, how did this clash of the titans happen so soon?
"The fact is we do get big fights done. If you wanna get big fights done, you can't involve (Top Rank chairman) Bob Arum because if he's involved, it won't happen. And If he's not involved, those big fights happen as you can see here," Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Shaefer told me. He also added that a Pacquiao-Mayweather duel is likely "not going to happen."
Unlike the much talked about Pacquiao-Mayweather dream fight, materializing the Mayweather-Canelo fight was easy as Sunday morning.
"It wasn't difficult at all. Mayweather actually wanted this fight and Canelo has been wanting this fight for a long time. So it was a matter of the weight, you know, Mayweather wanted 147, Canelo wanted 154 and we decided on 152 (pounds.)," said Oscar De La Hoya, owner of Golden Boy Promotions.
Decked in Banana Republic khakis and light-colored, checkered long sleeves, the 40-year old De La Hoya looked fit and dapper.
"It's going to be a tremendous, fight and an amazing event. People are now talking Canelo-Mayweather and that's what boxing needs to grow. Boxing is alive, it's a sport that if you put the best fighting the best, they will come," he said.
Asked if he'd ever visit the Philippines, De La Hoya replied, "I haven't been there, I would love to go down there. I know I fought Manny Pacquiao and he's a great champion, he beat me, I respect him. I would love to go to the Philippines because I hear a lot of great things, my matchmaker Eric Gomez has been down there many times. He loves the Philippines. I want to go down there and play some golf, meet the people. I can't wait."
As he moved along to the next interview, De La Hoya shook my hands firmly. He then winked, flashed a big smile and held the thumbs-up sign saying: 'Bohol, Bohol. Bohol."
Oh yeah. I love Bohol, too. But there's no other place I'd rather be this Sept. 14 -- The MGM Grand in Las Vegas for easily the fight of the year.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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