If one were to listen to veteran HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant, a bout between Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao might be right around the corner.
Merchant, enamoured by Alvarez?s massive Mexican following and crowd-pleasing offensive fighting style, has gone on record that a bout between the rising star and pound for pound king could be boxing?s next super fight.
Pump your breaks Mr. Merchant, Alvarez is no where near ready to face Pacquiao, and he may never be ready.
Saturday night Alvarez went the distance with a gutsy, but under-sized Matthew Hatton. While Alvarez displayed crisp combination punching, his hand speed was below-average, displayed no head movement, and limited mobility.
Not to mention that he was unable to dispose of a fringe world-class fighter in Hatton.
Alvarez may be twenty-years old, but he does not seem to posses the athletic ability or temperament to improve as a boxer. It was evident Saturday night, that however long his career lasts, Alvarez is a seek and destroy fighter.
One could imagine the path of destruction Manny Pacquiao would unleash on a green fighter, slow of hands, slow of foot, and with limited punching power; the beating he unleashed on Antonio Margarito would seem tame in comparison.
And for the record, Alvarez himself stated following his victory over Hatton that he was at least two or three fights from fighting the best boxers in the world.
A futile debate if Alvarez?s promotional representation, Golden Boy, and Pacquiao?s, Top Rank, continue feuding, but none the less, the young Mexican would be wise to stay away from the ?Mexicutioner?.
