As we wait to see what the next thirteen days bring, fans should no less than affirm that they don?t (expletive) around either, at least not anymore?
As of Saturday evening, two of the biggest stars in boxing are now set for a showdown as mandated not only by the fans, but the sport?s most feisty sanctioning body as well. To the surprise of virtually no one, Canelo took care of business by way of a resounding, crushing knockout victory over Amir Khan in Sin City. It?s now up to the collective brains, bones and gall of the promotional powers that will function as the grand overseers to prove us all wrong. Why, exactly do we need to be proven wrong?
Because we?ve seen this before and as much as we?d absolutely love to see Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) face the biggest test of his career in the form of Gennady Golovkin (35-0, 32 KOs), an all too familiar feeling has already begun to hang in the air above certain circles. The paying legions of fans who follow the sport?s every move were made to follow its every whim for nearly seven years as the most demanded bout failed to materialize when it mattered. Ultimately, Mayweather and Pacquiao gave us spoiled milk.
Canelo and ?GGG? can give us the milk as well as honey if the next thirteen days bring us the news for which we are now clamoring. September 17, 2016 will hopefully be the date to save for the showdown for the universally recognized, lineal and undisputed middleweight championship of the world. Golovkin?s trainer, Abel Sanchez indicated last Saturday evening while still in the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas that Canelo?s camp had fifteen days to respond to their ?take it or leave it? style offer.
An hour or so later Alvarez?s handlers, Oscar De La Hoya and company, stressed during the bout?s post-fight press conference that he?d be on the phone with Gennady?s peeps on Sunday morning. Still, some worry that Golden Boy Promotions is in no hurry to potentially have the shine around Alvarez shattered should he convincingly lose to Golovkin in the fall.
So, as we return to work on Monday to the tunes of dissonance among sports talk show hosts who rarely toss a bone towards the sweet science, thirteen days is what is now in front of us. Granted, this is not the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Canelo?s Mexico and Golovkin?s Kazakhstan (formerly of the U.S.S.R.) have not engaged in combat with the other, yet a war of sorts is what we?ll likely see if our ears are rang with the news of the two fighters facing anyone other than well, the other.
During the aforementioned standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union alongside Cuba, Americans were frightened with the thought of a nuclear war. Some of our parents can tell us stories of how they engaged in preparatory drills in grade school. They?d put their hands over the tops of their heads and brace for atom-splitting impact in the false hopes that such measures would save them from the oncoming flash of destruction.
In terms of professional boxing fans and the discretionary income sacrificed, the WBC?s mandated decision to strip Canelo of the middleweight title if he turns down the fight with Gennady should be the least of his worries. The ball is not completely on his side of court, to be sure. Golovkin?s representation may deliver some potential hang ups of their own as well. However, Canelo?s defiant statement given during the post-fight interviews in the ring (?We don?t (expletive) around?) should warm the collective hearts of boxing fans, unless it?s nothing more than talk between the ropes.
As we wait to see what the next thirteen days bring, fans should no less than affirm that they don?t (expletive) around either, at least not anymore. They need to stand firm in the face of whatever is thrown their way and remember that the biggest protest one can give is to turn their respective backs on a fighter or promotion. Never mind the social media or ability to let our thoughts known and disdain echoed. This time, keep the wallets shut. Don?t buy tickets. Don?t buy pay-per-view. Don?t even watch the HBO telecast save for a ?Face Off?Canelo vs. Golovkin? or other style of buildup to the bout we need to see sooner than later.
To some, the fact that the Mayweather/Pacquiao bout sold well over 4 million buys on pay TV was astounding because of the bickering, bantering and excuses we were thrown since the first decade of the new millennium. By the time the fight was a reality, it was such big news that mainstream news even tried to talk to the boxing universe about its significance. This time, all signs can point forward to the second biggest fight in as many years with or without the ?big fights only? crowd.
Hopefully, the next thirteen days will bring good news with the announcement that not only will the bout the place, but it will do so in a venue with the blue-collar fan in mind, such as AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Time is now ticking.
