Saul Alvarez Poised to be Mexican Hope
With a sixth round TKO of Luciano Cuello just two weeks ago, Saul Alvarez isn't just becoming a top competitor in the junior middleweight division. He's en route to capture the hearts of Mexican boxing fans around the world; a feat previously reserved for the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Oscar de la Hoya.
The Mexican native, 20, is scheduled to fight at the Staples Center on a September 18th card in Los Angeles. His opponent is yet to be determined.
Ranked 2nd by the World Boxing Council, Alvarez is the current NABF Welterweight Champion and the WBC Silver Junior Middleweight Champion. Alvarez earned the vacant WBC title by defeating Cuello.
Alvarez is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, headed by former boxing champion de la Hoya. Reflecting on Alvarez, de la Hoya recently said: “We believe in Saul and I know for a fact that he will be a star of tomorrow.”
The 'Golden Boy' also said that in a few years he believes that Alvarez, along with fellow Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., will be the only two Mexican fighters capable of filling the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
“There are two boxers who can fill Azteca Stadium in the same way as Julius Caesar Chavez, and they are 'Canelo' Alvarez and Chavez Jr. [...] and not necessarily fighting each other," said de la Hoya.
De la Hoya added that he believes Alvarez has the talent and charisma to cross over and become a favourite for Americans as well as Mexicans. But he also pressed that Alvarez was still an up-and-comer and needed to revise and grow as a fighter.
“I think after a few months we are going to see the changes, and hopefully he adapts well and uses those changes to become the champion of the world. I wish him all the luck in the world. Alvarez is a good fighter. We are going to promote him in the United States and Mexico. He still continues to fight in Mexico because we need stars in the Mexican community.”
As demand and competition go up for Alvarez, he is expected to make a run on the global stage. A September fight in Los Angeles is expected to inaugurate Alvarez's American campaign. Of his 34 professional fights, only three have been outside of Mexico.
“I will do everything I can to become a World Champion and make everyone proud inside and outside of the ring,” Alvarez said.
Of the “changes” de la Hoya might have been referring to in Alvarez, two are perhaps that he maintain a faster pace in the ring, and become lighter on his feet. Alvarez has so far demonstrated himself a slugger, and while that's generally an effective model for an up-and-comer, it can quickly pose problems with more elite competition, for whom the one-dimensional tactics of many punchers poses no great challenge.
At the same time, against Cuello, Alvarez displayed his usual uncanny amount of power and a unique ability to patiently win a fight; a rare trait for an inexperienced fighter.
Alvarez was born in the city of Guadalajara. At the age of five his family moved to Juanacatlan, which remains his current home. He has six brothers, all of whom box professionally in Mexico. His brothers include welterweight prospect Ricardo Alvarez and middleweight contender Rigoberto Alvarez.
In Mexico, Alvarez is already extremely popular and an attraction in the boxing world. He began training at the age of 13 and became the Junior Mexican National Boxing Champion at the young age of 15. Clearly, Alvarez has the talent to succeed in the sport, but we'll just have to wait and see if he's capable of continuing to show what he's made of.
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