By Jackie Kallen
There is a rumor rumbling that Canelo Alvarez will face the winner of Mayweather/Cotto. I hope it’s more than a rumor and will eventually come to pass because that is the fight I have been dreaming about. I no longer give a damn whether Manny and Floyd ever meet up in the ring.
Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions.
I just wish the promoters would give us the matches we, as fans, want. I am not at all excited about seeing 21 year-old Canelo beat the crap out of soon to be 42-year old Shane Mosley. There is no big challenge there. Mosley hasn’t won a fight in over three years and it’s unlikely he can overpower or out-speed Alvarez. He was a great champ in his day but his best days were back when he beat Oscar in 2000. Hello. It is 2012.
As for Mayweather, fighting Cotto, who is on a 3-fight winning streak is only slightly more interesting. Cotto is 10 years younger than Mosley, so at least Floyd has a younger target. But not too many boxing fans see Cotto coming out of the fight as the winner.
Unless Cotto turns in the performance of his life and Mayweather is rusty and bored–both Alvarez and Mayweather will win and will again be searching for the biggest, baddest man to face. If we take Pacman out of the equation–that leaves the two of them to face each other, which is exactly what I hope will happen.
Amir Kahn’s name has been bounced around as a possible Mayweather opponent in the future, but his loss to Peterson tarnished his shine a bit. As for Peterson, is he ready to step up and face Floyd? Ortiz? Berto? Kirkland? Martinez? They are all possible. But who else is out there with the record and flash of Canelo? He stands out in the crowd.
A lot of people feel that Canelo is too young, hasn’t paid his dues and should not get a shot against Mayweather yet. Bullshit. If he feels up to the challenge and if the fans want to see it–bring it on. Floyd is a great fighter, but we don’t know yet if Alvarez will be as good (or better).
Properly marketed, Canelo/Floyd would be a huge event. Age versus youth. That formula always draws attention. Undefeated against undefeated. That works, too. Let this be the beginning of another Hearns/Hagler/Leonard/Duran era. Put the top names against each other and go around and around and let’s see who beats who.
Jackie Kallen is a boxing manager who has been in the business for over three decades. Her life inspired the Meg Ryan film “Against the Ropes” and she was a part of the NBC series “The Contender.” www.JackieKallen.com, www.facebook.com/JackieKallen