The boxing fans in Mexico hold their fighters to a different standard than do most other legions of fans. It?s not enough to go into the ring and rack up wins; you have to go in the ring and leave everything behind. You can?t be slowed down by a rapidly-swelling eye, or the bitter taste of your blood, as it seeps from a deep cut in your mouth and down your throat. Those things must be ignored, if you are Mexican and want to truly be called, ?un Guerrero?. A Mexican boxer must be measured against the careers of greats like Julio Cesar Chavez, Sal Sanchez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales, whether they ask for it or not. It comes with the territory.
Since the retirements of Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales (their recent un-retirements don?t really count), there has been a void at the top of the hierarchy of Mexican boxing. Despite the blood soaked efforts of Juan Manuel Marquez, Israel Vazquez, and Rafael Marquez, the Mexican boxing fan has been left without a great idol.
Twenty year old Saul Alvarez sits atop a short list of Mexican hopefuls. Right below him might be Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the son of the legendary Julio Sr. Each had little-to-no amateur background, and have been brought along carefully in the professional ranks. Each has been hand-fed the right opponent at the right time, and each has capitalized on the opportunities presented to them.
On the undercard of the September 18, 2010 pay-per-view event that featured Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora, Saul Alvarez was one of three fighters that stole the spotlight from the main event. Alvarez took on thirty-nine year old Argentinean rugged man Carlos Baldomir in a Jr. Middleweight catch-weight bout. Baldomir is known for his rock-solid set of whiskers, having survived the punches of the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Zab Judah, and the late Vernon Forrest. He was knocked out in spectacular fashion in six rounds, as the war-torn Baldomir applied stop-and-go pressure to the young red-haired kid from Jalisco, Mexico. The arena was filled with chants of, ?Canelo!(?cinnamon?, translated in English)?, as the two traded blows in the ring. The crowd was in an uproar as Alvarez?s final shot, a counter left hook landed square on Baldomir?s chin, causing him to fall flat on his face. When the referee waived the fight off as Baldomir struggled to stand on rubbery legs, the crowd reached new a new decibel level as Alvarez jumped up into the corner in celebration.
The chants of, ?Canelo!? returned during the main event, as the crowd became displeased with the results of the main event. After the fight, Alvarez led a mob of rowdy supporters and adoring media around the back halls of Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, a hotbed of Mexican boxing support. A new Mexican star was born. Alvarez already holds one of four recognized WBC world titles in the Jr. Middleweight division; the unnecessary ?Silver title?. The praise that has been showered down upon the humble youngster might be pre-mature, when looking upon his short career with an objective eye.
Alvarez?s marquee wins have come against Jose Miguel Cotto, a blown up lightweight journeyman, and a faded Carlos Baldomir. Alvarez also holds wins over career journeyman Lanardo Tyner, and Michael Rosales, a decent prospect. Like Chavez Jr., Alvarez?s resume is nothing to write home about. It should be a while before we see Alvarez in the ring with the top names in the Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight divisions. In order to capitalize on his long-term potential, the top fights should be avoided until Alvarez works his way up the food chain. In a sport where so many fighters streak their way up the rankings for political (or other) reasons, seeing Alvarez work his way into a title shot would be a welcome change to the usual.
In a perfect world and a perfect sport, we might see Alvarez moved along slowly. However, this is boxing, where money is king, and money-hungry promoters throw young, inexperienced fighters with huge fan bases in with the big dogs too soon, only to set their development back four or five fights. For the fans that are singing the praises of one of Mexico?s most popular fighters, a loss for Alvarez could leave a nation in disappointment.
I was impressed with Alvarez?s knockout of Baldomir on Saturday night. He took a big right hand, stepped back, avoided a left hand from Baldomir, and fired back the final left hook that prematurely ended Baldomir?s night. However, like I said earlier, all things should be examined with an objective eye.
Baldomir is old. Baldomir is painstakingly slow. Baldomir?s best days are behind him. Baldomir was the right opponent to gauge Alvarez?s ability to stand up to a pressure fighter and handle volume punching. Baldomir was never a big puncher, as evidenced by his twelve knockouts in sixty one career fights.
Alvarez said that he would like to return to the Welterweight division, where he is more comfortable. The Welterweight division is thing right now, and ripe with opponents for Alvarez to feast on until he is ready for a mega-fight with one of the top Welterweights, Mayweather (assuming he can avoid considerable jail time), Pacquiao, or Berto.
In the interim, we should enjoy the growth of an inspired young kid that is gaining some valuable on-the-job experience. Alvarez lacks many tools needed to challenge the elite in the sport. His jab doesn?t stand out, he is dreadfully slow on his feet, and lateral movement needs to become part of his instinctual movements. If Alvarez falls short of the huge expectations that have been heaped upon his freckled shoulders, it won?t come as a surprise to some, but will leave many severely let down and looking on to the next big Mexican hopeful.
