Boxing’s current king of the box office continues to give fight fans what they want to see out of the top draw.
A few weekends ago, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez successfully retained the World Boxing Council World Middleweight championship in spectacular fashion as he knocked out former 140 lb. titlist and Olympic Silver medalist Amir Khan in the sixth round of their scheduled 12 round fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
After slowing the British speedster with a deliberate and powerful body attack, Alvarez faked a left jab to the body. Khan reacted and was caught with an overhand right to the jaw. Referee Kenny Bayless called a stop to action 2:37 seconds into round 6 as Khan lay motionless on the mat.
Alvarez improved his record to 47-1-1 with 33 wins by knockout. Khan fell to 31-4.
Khan has nothing to be ashamed of with the performance. Coming into the fight, many wondered if Khan’s incredible hand speed would be affected by his move from welterweight (147 lbs.) to middleweight (160 lbs.). He erased those doubts with a dominating first round as he frustrated Alvarez with his masterful speed and movement. Khan absorbed a couple of big shots but shook them off like a ring general.
Khan arguably led most of this fight. Most of social media had Khan leading. Two of the three judges, however, scored the fight in Alvarez’s favor.
During the first three rounds, the hand speed was prevalent. The combinations were accurate and landing. Khan fought the way a boxer moving up in weight class is supposed to fight: speed, angles, and accuracy.
As the fight progressed, however, Alvarez did what a bigger fighter is supposed to do against a boxer moving up in weight class. His aggressiveness picked up. He cut the ring off. He targeted the body. He flexed his power.
The KO was bound to happen.
And it did.
Khan deserves warrior respect. He didn’t have to take this fight. Khan spent a better part of the last three years attempting to gain a spot on the Floyd Mayweather fight docket only to get ignored. For a fighter that has been chasing the more high profile, pay per view events, Khan deserved the right to grab this opportunity.
So what’s next for Amir Khan?
A move back down to 147 lbs. is likely and there should be money to make with the likes of World Boxing Association Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter (Thurman’s next opponent), and everyone’s favorite problem child Adrien Broner waiting. There are two other potential opponents,however, that are more enticing than the ones just mentioned.
The first opponent is one that is literally in his London back yard. International Boxing Federation Welterweight Champion Kell Brock sports a 36-0 record with 25 KOs and has notched three successful title defenses since lifting the tile from Porter back on August 16th 2014. The Sheffield native seems receptive to an all British confrontation.
The other potential opponent is one that Khan has seen before in the ring. Danny “Swift” Garcia met Khan in a light welterweight title unification bout in 2012.The Philadelphia native walked into the bout as a heavy underdog but shocked the boxing community by scoring a 4th round TKO over Khan. Four years later, the undefeated Garcia is now a well regarded fighter who now holds the WBC Welterweight championship after defeating Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero by unnanimous decision this past January.
His No. 1 contender: Amir Khan.
WBC President Maurucio Sulaiman confirmed that fact days after Khan’s knockout loss.
Right now Alvarez is at the top of the fight game. The majority of the 16,540 in attendance were there to cheer on their conquering hero. One of those people in attendance was there with his eyes square on the WBC Middleweight champ. But he was not there to cheer. He was there to scout.
That person?
Gennady Golovkin.
In the post Floyd Mayweather era, boxing’s next fight fans want to see (while both fighters are both in their prime) is clearly Canelo Alvarez facing the man affectionately known as Triple G. Currently in the midst of a 22 KO streak, the current WBA, IBF, and International Boxing Organization Middleweight titlist is the sport’s new action hero. The Kazakhstan born destruction machine notched his last victory with a second round demolition of Dominic Wade at the Forum in Inglewood CA. Triple G’s aggressively skilled style has garnered a legion of fans who salivate as they wait for his victims to crumple to the mat.
Will Alvarez come a calling?
If Alvarez’s post fight comments ring true, then the answer would be yes. Even Alvarez’s promoter, Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya, took to social media to address a potential Canelo-Triple G showdown.
Some, however, don’t see that fight happening anytime soon. ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas feel that a Canelo-Triple G event is “not going to happen”. In his eyes, Atlas sees Alvarez as a prize fighter with a huge fan base that can “make money fighting anyone” while Golovkin needs Alvarez.
On Monday,however, the WBC formally gave the promoters of each fighter 15 days to negotiate a deal. If no agreement is reached, then the fight will be up for a purse bid on May 24th.
This potential mega fight is what’s best for boxing.
Most fight fans want to see the two best fighters in the middleweight division square off. A series of tune up fights against fighters that are not viewed as equal challengers will not satisfy a fanbase that is hungry for the next big event.
Canelo-GGG is that next big event.
Speaking of the “big event”, let’s not forget the Mayweather factor.
Wait. Didn’t he retire?
The pound for pound king, who just happens to be the one blemish on Canelo Alvarez’s record, is sticking to his “I’m a retired legend” script. But isn’t it strange that his company Mayweather Productions recently filed trademarks to “TMT 50” and “TBE 50”.
What’s Mayweather’s record?
49-0.
Interesting.
And what about those comments he made on Showtime boxing recently? The comments about “talking to CBS and Showtime” and the “nine figure number” that has been tossed around?
Intriguing.
And now the talk of a possible settlement in the $100 million lawsuit between Bob Arum’s Top Rank Boxing and boxing manager Al Haymon which could lead to a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch.
As Alvarez’s place as the new leading man in boxing grows, a Canelo-Mayweather rematch stands to be a more desirable matchup.
Especially with both history for Mayweather and retribution for Alvarez on the line.
