It was a little over a year ago that I first started corresponding with veteran HBO color analyst Larry Merchant. In the twelve months since we have kept an ongoing column running between us while touching on several mainstream topics in the sport. Merchant has always shown a great appreciation towards WBC junior middleweight titlist Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez, even stating in early December of last year that he would one day be interested in seeing the Mexican star face off with Manny Pacquiao if he progressed properly. But while Alvarez has continued to win in commanding fashion, reeling off three wins in 2011, the latest being his 5th round stoppage over Kermit Cintron this past weekend, Merchant doesn?t seem as eager to see the 21-year immediately jump into the fire.
Following his victory over Cintron, Alvarez was quick to tell Max Kellerman that he was ready for a fight against undefeated superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is penciled in to be making his return to the sport in May following his September 17th knockout over Victor Ortiz. Alvarez was sure to point out that his motives in pursuing that fight were based on testing himself against the world?s best as opposed to simply chasing a paycheck.
