BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. — A group of boxing writers gathered around Saul Alvarez before the young Mexican star worked out and sparred for about 50 onlookers who made the trek up the San Bernardino mountain for his recent media day. None of the scribes wanted to talk to him about his next opponent.
Alvarez defends his WBC 154-pound title against Alfonso Gomez on Sept. 17 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, part of a split-site pay-per-view event headlined by the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz showdown in Las Vegas.
However, the media wasn’t interested in Alvarez?s thoughts on Gomez, headlining at Staples Center or being a part of the Mayweather-Ortiz promotion. They wanted to know what the 21-year-old redhead plans to do after Sept. 17, and more to the point, when he?ll face a notable fighter in a suitable challenge.
Vanes Martirosyan and Alfredo Angulo, the WBC?s Nos. 1 and 2 154-pound contenders, were brought up. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the holder of the WBC?s middleweight belt and the only fighter who can match Alvarez?s popularity in Mexico, was also mentioned.
The names are thrown at Alvarez almost every time he?s interviewed, especially the prospect of fighting Chavez. But he doesn?t seem bothered by the repetition or by the suggestion that he?s unproven or just the product of hype from his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.
Alvarez?s patience with his gradual pro development might irk the boxing media and hardcore fans but it will probably serve him well in the long run. His composure in the face of heavy pressure to get right into the biggest fights possible is definitely a good sign.
