Can Kirkland make up for lost time, put his baggage aside, and fight as he?s capable of fighting against Canelo?
With the fight between Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs)) and Miguel Cotto having fallen by the wayside due to financial concerns, Golden Boy?s ever resourceful Oscar De La Hoya reached into his bag of tricks and, presto change-o, out came James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs).
Alvarez-Kirkland will reportedly be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas (or failing that, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas) on May 2, depending, of course, on who Floyd Mayweather, who has booked the MGM Grand, intends to fight on that same date.
The good news is that the fight will be on HBO and won?t be pay-per-view. The bad news is that Kirkland is a slugger, and Canelo has trouble, when he has trouble at all, with boxers.
Slugging with sluggers is one of his specialties.
Kirkland, who was supposed to fight Canelo a few years back, is presumably in the gym getting ready for the bout. But he has yet to decide who his trainer will be. Whether it?s the voluble but effective Ann Wolfe, who brought James to the heights, or someone else, who might lead James to the depths, has yet to be determined.
The fight is much anticipated. It?s not just what Kirkland can do in the ring when he?s on his game, but the inevitable drama which precedes his bouts. Injuries, money concerns, personal problems, and legal issues have proven to be a distraction in the past. It also will have been 17 months since Kirkland last fought.
Can James Kirkland make up for lost time, put his baggage aside and fight as he?s capable of fighting?
That is the question and time will tell.
