LAS VEGAS ? For all its intricacy and craft, boxing thrives most freely when buoyed by its highlight-reel moments, those parcels of time when ferocious power brings into immediate focus all that is both intriguing and cruel about battles of the fist.
Such a moment came on Saturday night by delivery of Canelo Alvarez?s thudding right hand, with the young Mexican superstar producing a devastating sixth-round knockout of Amir Khan at The Strip?s new T-Mobile Arena.
Just as Alvarez waited, often frustrated, until near the scheduled midway point of his WBC middleweight title defense for the telling blow, now must the boxing public wait.
They will wait is to see whether the 25-year-old will make good on his post-victory promise to give the fight game the scrap it craves with a showdown against the division?s other heavy-handed marauder, Gennady ?GGG? Golovkin.
Hopefully the interlude will be a short one.
If Alvarez does not inform the WBC within 15 days that he plans to defend his title against Golovkin, then he risks being stripped of the belt. Such a time crunch would appear to be encouraging, yet knowing the political and contractual chicanery that goes on whenever a bout of this magnitude is involved, such suggestions cannot be simply taken at face value.
Neither sadly, can Alvarez?s words.
?Like we say in Mexico, ?We don?t (expletive) around,? ? Alvarez said. ?I don?t fear anyone. Right now I will put on the gloves again and fight (Golovkin).?
Very good, but the proof is in the parchment. Once the contract is inked, then we have something to look forward to, and not before.
What can?t be questioned is that a match-up between Alvarez and Golovkin would be a perfect tonic for the sport, a genuine super-fight between two legitimately entertaining, fearless and supremely talented men, both of whom share a rather pleasing habit of avoiding nonsensical boorishness and empty swagger.
A year ago, let us not forget, many were ready to write boxing?s obituary following that disastrous, so-called Fight of the Century that we try not to think about. If Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao left the game with a black eye, it is hard to imagine Canelo vs. GGG would do the same.
For this pair, fighting is a matter of pride rather than simply a means for more fiscal benefit, and each competitor loves nothing more than to end the show early by dramatic means.
Khan was on the receiving end of that, his night and hopes dashed with one telling shot to the temple that he never saw coming. Until that point, the Brit had been outstanding, leading handily on most neutral cards, using defense and footwork and calculated counters to keep Alvarez guessing.
It was threatening to shape up as something similar to Alvarez?s only defeat, to Mayweather in 2013, when he was flummoxed to the point of madness by Mayweather?s ducking, diving and superior footwork.
Yet Alvarez has grown in both stature and wisdom in the intervening time and quietly waited on Saturday, comfortable in the knowledge that his bigger natural size and fizzing punching force gave him the possibility of ending it all with one piece of perfection.
The last guy to show such explosiveness was Golovkin, a couple of weeks ago, albeit against an inferior opponent to Khan in Dominic Wade.
Such a collision of knockout artists is as enticing a prospect as boxing can offer just now and should prove irresistible to the promotional guiding hands for each side.
?Golovkin,? said Alvarez?s promoter Oscar De La Hoya. ?Make sure you pick up your phone in the morning. We will be calling you.?
Let us hope so.
Because there have been rumblings in recent times that spelled an ominous tone. Mayweather is no longer so adamant that his supposed retirement is indeed permanent. His representatives have patented a series of trademarks involving the number 50, which is the number of career fights he would reach if he competes again.
Pacquiao, for his part, was far from convincing in his various insistences that his recent victory over Timothy Bradley would be his final excursion between the ropes.
Well hang on there, old timers. Forget about selling a rematch as a chance to right the wrong of last time, making up for the boredom and the disappointment and the cheating of the fans? wallets. You had your chance. Step aside.
Boxing needs excitement and a bout between Alvarez and Golovkin would undoubtedly provide it in spades. They are separated by nine years but both have the hunger of youth.
It is that desire that is needed, not a tired old redo that doubles as a second painful money grab.
