Casual Talk via HOLLYWOOD, Los Angeles – At exactly 12:30 noon bearing 61?F , he arrived yesterday at the West Side Boxing Gym on 4500 West Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. Greeted by familiar faces of journalists – almost the same armies who cover boxing events religiously – from different publications and other boxing aficionados mostly from Golden Boy Promotions, he humbly marched in and acknowledged the crowd.
Lately, he has been the talk of the boxing circle, which goes on a see-saw between himself and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. against Manny Pacquiao. It’s about the false report that speads across the networld vouching that the Forbes’ listed richest man of the planet, Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, has extended a $ 65,000 offer to Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, to exchange leathers with him in the ring of madness, that which he denied of having known the same offer.
“We do not know about that offer. That’s not true,” said Eric Gomez, one of the top officials of Golden Boy Promotions.
But, the fact would prevail: Saul “Canelo/Cinnamon” Alvarez , himself, is a living death-threat to the kingship of Manny Pacquiao.
Asked about his view of Manny Pacquiao being the king of boxing of this era, Alvarez said: “He is a great fighter and a great champion. And that’s why I want to fight him.”
Alvarez obviously still is trying to do skipping rope to a near perfect level, his footwork still less than formidable. But, he has what it takes to perfect them both: discipline.
“I like Pacquiao because of his training discipline. And I am doing the same to prepare a good fight with him,” the current WBC light middleweight titlist said.
Alvarez may have seen in Pacquiao what he sees in himself. Just about reaching 14, like Pacquiao, he started his career in boxing being inspired by his older brother Rigoberto Alvarez’s debut as a professional boxer, according to the young Alvarez. His brothers are welterweight boxers Ramon �lvarez, Ricardo �lvarez and former WBA World Champion, Rigoberto Alvarez.
The young �lvarez, on the other hand, was engaged to 27 year old Marisol Gonz?lez, who is Miss Mexico Universe 2003 and a sports reporter for Televisa Deportes. He has one daughter that he had with a former girlfriend. A flame-haired and light skinned Raza from Juanacatl?n, Jalisco, Mexico, he has an aura of a conservative Jaliscience. He owed his red hair from his mother’s genes and, due to this, he was given the nickname El Canelo (Spanish for Cinnamon). His trainer, Jose “Chepo” Reynoso, gave him such nickname.
Growing up on his family’s farm and where he still rides horseback, El Canelo senses the amazing strength of the horses in his meditations. And in the ring, he does move like one. He relies as well the strength of his leg muscles from where he draws to his fists whirlwind blows.
Alvarez is definitely a superstar in the making. And one who has considerable quickness, power and ring intelligence that can surely give Pacquiao the troubles that he would rather avoid just at the crux of his contemplation for retirement. Pacquiao was knockout twice, both in round three, by Rustico Torrecampo and Medgoen Singsurat, in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Alvarez, likewise, can just deliver the same, potentially more devastating than what the two stunningly did.
Alvarez has thirty wins, zero loss and one draw, puctuating 70.27 knockout percentage.
Asked about what he thinks about Juan Manuel Marquez, who will turn 38, fighting on November 12 against the much younger Pacquiao, he said: “I don’t think age would be a factor for Marquez in this fight. He will demonstrate a lot of surprises. It’s going to be very difficult for Pacquiao to handle, perhaps more than his two fights with Marquez.”
Alvarez, who seems to be a bit reserved and calculating of his way of speaking, may have more thoughts about Pacquiao than just what this writer and others have explored. He is, nevertheless, a thinking, matured fighter on the offense mode. Yet, he is one who is teachable, surely daring and vigorous – developing in fact into an effective counter-puncher. The preceding would surely give Pacquiao a tectonic haste.
Meanwhile, just simply observing the cues of his style and the mechanics he has shown in the gym versus those he commands in his professional fights, Alvarez may have not really shown the best of him at this stage of his career. He does have what he may not know: KILLER INSTINCT and DEVELOPING INTELLIGENCE – both these would ambiguate Pacquiao’s greatness.
Alvarez will defend his title against Ryan Rhodes (45-4-0) on June 18 at the Arena VFG in Tlajomulco de Z??iga, Jalisco, Mexico. He is currently finishing the last phase of his training at the Golden Boy Promotion’s tactical camp in Big Bear City, here in California.
At 20, Alvarez is simply compelling!
MEET ME VIA FACEBOOK WITH MY FULL NAME: Granville Tolo-Hayag Vergara-Ampong
