chief108
23rd June 2010, 10:46
SOURCE (http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/06/22/saul-alvarez-a-towering-figure-among-boxings-young-prospects/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/boxing.fanhouse.com/media/2010/06/saulalvarez420-1277231340.jpg
His nickname, "Canelo," is defined as "a slender, yet dominant tree" often found in the Chilean or Argentinian rain forests.
And the nearly 6-foot Saul Alvarez (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Saul+Alvarez+/)does stand tall among boxing's young prospects.
Called, "The Mexican James Dean," for his freckled face and his matching, glowing red hair, the Mexican-born, junior middeweight (154 pounds) has a popularity in his native country which rivals that of the Mexican national soccer team.
"Plus, he's very charismatic, very good looking, and he can fight, of course," said Richard Schaefer (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Richard+Schaefer/), CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "Saul is undefeated. And the Mexican and Mexican-American people have embraced him as a potentially great superstar."
In the ring, the 19-year-old Alvarez packs a wallop with his fists, so much so, that the youngster will go after his 29th consecutive victory, and his 10th knockout in his past 11 fights when he takes on Luciano Leonel Cuello (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Luciano+Leonel+Cuello/) of Madrid, Spain.
The Alvarez-Cuello July 10 clash is for the WBC's silver light middleweight crown, and will take place at The Arena VFG Gudalajara before Alvarez's partisan fans in his birth home of Jalisco, Mex.
Alvarez, who turns 20 on July 18, hails from Juanacatlan, Jalisco, Mex., where his popularity is zooming.
"Saul Alvarez usually fights in Gudadalajara, Mexico, and he's been selling out 15,00-seat venues with people lining up outside," said Schaefer. "So you can imagine what it will be like when he goes and he fights on July 10 -- the day before the World Cup Soccer final."
Alvarez boasts a record of 32-0-1 with 24 KOs, and is coming off of his biggest and most important victory to date, which occurred in a May 1 bout that took place at The MGM Grand in his Las Vegas debut.
That's where, Alvarez scored a ninth-round knockout over 32-year-old, Jose Miguel Cotto (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Jose+Miguel+Cotto/) (31-2-1, 23 KOs), of, Caguas, Puerto Rico, who is the older brother of 29-year-old, four-time world champion and current WBA junior middleweight king, Miguel Cotto (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Miguel+Cotto/) (35-2, 28 KOs).
Jose Miguel Cotto was coming off of December's sixth-round knockout of Ilido Julio, and had not lost since suffering a 12-round, unanimous decision setback to Juan Diaz for the WBA lightweight (135 pounds) title in April of 2006.
In his previous five fights, Jose Miguel Cotto was 4-0-1, with four knockouts, including three straight stoppages.
"Saul Avalrez really has captured the imagination of the Mexican people," said Schaefer. "He's an entertaining fighter, and an exciting fighter."
http://www.blogcdn.com/boxing.fanhouse.com/media/2010/06/alvarezcotto420-1277231300.jpg
Alvarez succeeded against Cotto (pictured at far right) even as he was cast in the role of the co-main event for the mega fight between WBA welterweight (147 pounds) titlist, Shane Mosley (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Shane+Mosley/) (46-6, 39 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Floyd+Mayweather/) (41-0, 25 KOs), the latter of whom dominated over the course of a 12-rounds unanimous decision.
Against Cuello, Alvarez faces a 26-year-old opponent with a record of 26-1 that includes 12 KOs. Cuello has won three straight bouts, two of them by knockout, since falling by unanimous decision over 10 rounds to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Julio+Cesar+Chavez+Jr/) (40-0-1, 30 KOs) in March of 2009.
"I have listened to Saul's management team, and they're an experienced management and they know what they're doing," said Schaefer. "They feel that he's ready for that stage -- to be on one of the biggest cards of the decade and right before the main event."
To that end, Schaefer already has begun planning the next event for Alvarez, which is a bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles against an opponent to be determined on Sept. 18.
"This will be a very, very big event in downtown Los Angeles on pay per view. It will be at the Staples Center as part of some week long activitities celebrating Mexican Independence Day. So we'll be putting together a big, pay per view card to be entitled '200,' and which will basically be the culmination of Latino and Mexican festivities," said Schaefer.
"This will all begin on Wednesday and culminate with the pay per view fight card on Saturday night from the Staples' Center," said Schaefer. "But there will be some major mexican music acts, and this will include a big night which will be open to fight fans where we will be flying in some of the biggest Mexican names. They will be presented with special awards. Every night will be a special event."
There has been no opponent chosen for Sept 18, although Schaefer said that "names being tossed around include Matthew Hatton (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Matthew+Hatton/) (39-4-2, 15 KOs)," brother of former junior welterweight (140 pounds) world champion, Ricky Hatton (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Ricky+Hatton/).
The 29-year-old Matthew Hatton is 6-0-1, with two knockouts in his past seven bouts since losing a May, 2008, unanimous decision to Craig Watson. Hatton is coming off of a March, unanimous decision victory over Gianluca Branco (43-3-1, 22 KOs).
"We are not really locked into him as an opponent," said Schaefer. "We are still looking for difterent options."
The only blemish on record of Alvarez was a draw in his fifth fight as a professional, when he fought Jorge Juarez as a 15-year-old in June of 2006.
After that, Alvarez reeled off eight consecutive stoppages over an 11-month span -- including four in the second round, and, two in the fourth -- from July of 2006, through, June of 2007.
Alvarez took a record of 22-0-1, with 15 knockouts into his December of 2008, clash with hard-hitting Raul Pinzon (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Raul+Pinzon/), of Barranquilla, Colombia, at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, in Miami.
Alvarez, then 18, was coming off of an October, 10-round, unanimous victory over Larry Mosley, and was going in against a fighter in Pinzon who was 16-1, with 15 knockouts.
Pinzon's only previous loss had been by a 10-round, majority decision to then, undefeated, Euri Gonzalez, who entered their bout with a mark of 14-0-1.
Alvarez, who had fought almost exclusively in Mexico, blasted Pinzon out of the fight in just one round, sensationally illustrating what the building, national fuss had been all about for the youngster among his countrymen.
http://www.blogcdn.com/boxing.fanhouse.com/media/2010/06/alvarezpunch420.jpg
"Saul Alvarez is not weak in any one department. He sets things up with a jab. He's not in a hurry. He has power in both hands. He has good balance and good timing," said Doug Fischer, Co-editor of RingTV.com.
(http://www.ringtv.com/)
"He sets up punches and he blocks well, but could work on his defense," said Fischer. "I would say that his weakness is hand speed and lateral movement, and I base that off of his fight with Larry Mosley. Mosley basically out-boxed him, but Alvarez wanted it a little bit more."
http://www.blogcdn.com/boxing.fanhouse.com/media/2010/06/saulalvarez420-1277231340.jpg
His nickname, "Canelo," is defined as "a slender, yet dominant tree" often found in the Chilean or Argentinian rain forests.
And the nearly 6-foot Saul Alvarez (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Saul+Alvarez+/)does stand tall among boxing's young prospects.
Called, "The Mexican James Dean," for his freckled face and his matching, glowing red hair, the Mexican-born, junior middeweight (154 pounds) has a popularity in his native country which rivals that of the Mexican national soccer team.
"Plus, he's very charismatic, very good looking, and he can fight, of course," said Richard Schaefer (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Richard+Schaefer/), CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "Saul is undefeated. And the Mexican and Mexican-American people have embraced him as a potentially great superstar."
In the ring, the 19-year-old Alvarez packs a wallop with his fists, so much so, that the youngster will go after his 29th consecutive victory, and his 10th knockout in his past 11 fights when he takes on Luciano Leonel Cuello (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Luciano+Leonel+Cuello/) of Madrid, Spain.
The Alvarez-Cuello July 10 clash is for the WBC's silver light middleweight crown, and will take place at The Arena VFG Gudalajara before Alvarez's partisan fans in his birth home of Jalisco, Mex.
Alvarez, who turns 20 on July 18, hails from Juanacatlan, Jalisco, Mex., where his popularity is zooming.
"Saul Alvarez usually fights in Gudadalajara, Mexico, and he's been selling out 15,00-seat venues with people lining up outside," said Schaefer. "So you can imagine what it will be like when he goes and he fights on July 10 -- the day before the World Cup Soccer final."
Alvarez boasts a record of 32-0-1 with 24 KOs, and is coming off of his biggest and most important victory to date, which occurred in a May 1 bout that took place at The MGM Grand in his Las Vegas debut.
That's where, Alvarez scored a ninth-round knockout over 32-year-old, Jose Miguel Cotto (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Jose+Miguel+Cotto/) (31-2-1, 23 KOs), of, Caguas, Puerto Rico, who is the older brother of 29-year-old, four-time world champion and current WBA junior middleweight king, Miguel Cotto (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Miguel+Cotto/) (35-2, 28 KOs).
Jose Miguel Cotto was coming off of December's sixth-round knockout of Ilido Julio, and had not lost since suffering a 12-round, unanimous decision setback to Juan Diaz for the WBA lightweight (135 pounds) title in April of 2006.
In his previous five fights, Jose Miguel Cotto was 4-0-1, with four knockouts, including three straight stoppages.
"Saul Avalrez really has captured the imagination of the Mexican people," said Schaefer. "He's an entertaining fighter, and an exciting fighter."
http://www.blogcdn.com/boxing.fanhouse.com/media/2010/06/alvarezcotto420-1277231300.jpg
Alvarez succeeded against Cotto (pictured at far right) even as he was cast in the role of the co-main event for the mega fight between WBA welterweight (147 pounds) titlist, Shane Mosley (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Shane+Mosley/) (46-6, 39 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Floyd+Mayweather/) (41-0, 25 KOs), the latter of whom dominated over the course of a 12-rounds unanimous decision.
Against Cuello, Alvarez faces a 26-year-old opponent with a record of 26-1 that includes 12 KOs. Cuello has won three straight bouts, two of them by knockout, since falling by unanimous decision over 10 rounds to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Julio+Cesar+Chavez+Jr/) (40-0-1, 30 KOs) in March of 2009.
"I have listened to Saul's management team, and they're an experienced management and they know what they're doing," said Schaefer. "They feel that he's ready for that stage -- to be on one of the biggest cards of the decade and right before the main event."
To that end, Schaefer already has begun planning the next event for Alvarez, which is a bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles against an opponent to be determined on Sept. 18.
"This will be a very, very big event in downtown Los Angeles on pay per view. It will be at the Staples Center as part of some week long activitities celebrating Mexican Independence Day. So we'll be putting together a big, pay per view card to be entitled '200,' and which will basically be the culmination of Latino and Mexican festivities," said Schaefer.
"This will all begin on Wednesday and culminate with the pay per view fight card on Saturday night from the Staples' Center," said Schaefer. "But there will be some major mexican music acts, and this will include a big night which will be open to fight fans where we will be flying in some of the biggest Mexican names. They will be presented with special awards. Every night will be a special event."
There has been no opponent chosen for Sept 18, although Schaefer said that "names being tossed around include Matthew Hatton (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Matthew+Hatton/) (39-4-2, 15 KOs)," brother of former junior welterweight (140 pounds) world champion, Ricky Hatton (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Ricky+Hatton/).
The 29-year-old Matthew Hatton is 6-0-1, with two knockouts in his past seven bouts since losing a May, 2008, unanimous decision to Craig Watson. Hatton is coming off of a March, unanimous decision victory over Gianluca Branco (43-3-1, 22 KOs).
"We are not really locked into him as an opponent," said Schaefer. "We are still looking for difterent options."
The only blemish on record of Alvarez was a draw in his fifth fight as a professional, when he fought Jorge Juarez as a 15-year-old in June of 2006.
After that, Alvarez reeled off eight consecutive stoppages over an 11-month span -- including four in the second round, and, two in the fourth -- from July of 2006, through, June of 2007.
Alvarez took a record of 22-0-1, with 15 knockouts into his December of 2008, clash with hard-hitting Raul Pinzon (http://www.fanhouse.com/tag/Raul+Pinzon/), of Barranquilla, Colombia, at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, in Miami.
Alvarez, then 18, was coming off of an October, 10-round, unanimous victory over Larry Mosley, and was going in against a fighter in Pinzon who was 16-1, with 15 knockouts.
Pinzon's only previous loss had been by a 10-round, majority decision to then, undefeated, Euri Gonzalez, who entered their bout with a mark of 14-0-1.
Alvarez, who had fought almost exclusively in Mexico, blasted Pinzon out of the fight in just one round, sensationally illustrating what the building, national fuss had been all about for the youngster among his countrymen.
http://www.blogcdn.com/boxing.fanhouse.com/media/2010/06/alvarezpunch420.jpg
"Saul Alvarez is not weak in any one department. He sets things up with a jab. He's not in a hurry. He has power in both hands. He has good balance and good timing," said Doug Fischer, Co-editor of RingTV.com.
(http://www.ringtv.com/)
"He sets up punches and he blocks well, but could work on his defense," said Fischer. "I would say that his weakness is hand speed and lateral movement, and I base that off of his fight with Larry Mosley. Mosley basically out-boxed him, but Alvarez wanted it a little bit more."