It will be interesting who Golden Boy Promotions selects as Saul Alvarez?s next opponent. The negotiation is ongoing and thus far James Kirkland and Paul Williams have been mentioned for the slot. There are only four months to work with before Mexican Independence day at the MGM Grand, the described Mecca of the sport and where ?Canelo? will headline for the very first time.
Alvarez is already a mega star in his native Mexico, and has made strides in crossing over to become a State wide appeal. During the Hollywood portion for his May 5 bout against Shane Mosley on the May/Cotto card, Alvarez attempted his best to speak in English when fielding my questions about the fight.
Fighters from Juan Manuel Marquez to Miguel Cotto have entered the sport knowing only their native tongue and went on to break into the English language circuit, which no doubt helped enhance their careers.
Obviously, Canelo is looking to do the same, and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, could help him in that regard being as though he is perhaps the most accomplished Mexican-American in boxing.
For the record, I am very high on the 21 year old, and have penned him ?Kid Cinnnamon?? perhaps that could be his English nickname as he is known in Spanish as Canelo?
KHAN/PEDerson
The Khan/Peterson ordeal is very unfortunate as the highly anticipated match was cancelled due to Peterson taking testosterone. It stole a good fight from us boxing heads, but it saved me a tank of gas and hopefully everyone gets redeemed for tickets and flights/hotels scheduled.
Peterson deserves the book to be thrown at him for the ordeal, a no-contest for the December title winning effort over Khan and a stripping of the belts, the whole enchilada. Boxing needs to come down hard and set the precedents for these types of situations.
Its also unfortunate that Khan lost a whole training camp to this situation, as he explained on Jim Lampley?s ?Fight Game?. It also pushed back his career prospects as he is still looking for one more fight at 140 before jumping into the 147 pound division.
CALI BENEFITS FROM KHAN-PETE
Californian?s stand to benefit from the Khan-Peterson cancellation as GBP CEO Richard Schaefer announced that he is moving his June 30 card away from Washington D.C. and will instead set the Showtime event at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, which will feature Gary Russell Jr. and the rematch between titlist Cornelius ?K9? Brundage and Cory Spinks.
DONAIRE AT HDC
It was initially reported that pound for pound fighter Nonito Donaire would headline in July at the Home Depot Center in July, and although the date (perhaps June 30) and venue may change, it still sounds as if Donaire will be fighting his next fight in California.
California also plays host to GBP?s June 2nd Showtime ?Four Warned? quadruple header at the HDC, in what is going to be a very bust next few months in the Southern California region.
It has been reported that Khan may fight Danny Garcia, with the venue of the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
CALIFORNIA LOVE
The Andre Berto/Victor Ortiz rematch is set for June 23 from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and also on the California calendar is Mikey Garcia?s featherweight title shot against Celestino Cabellero, also to be set at the Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California and scheduled for July 28, and there are a number of club fights scheduled to take place in Burbank, Studio City, Woodland Hills and Ontario in the following months.
Boxing fans outside of the state may want to stay with a relative for a few months to catch all this action!
HOLLYWOOD PAC
The latest revelation of Manny Pacquiao denouncing the right to gay marriage, on the hells of President Barack Obama recently supporting gay rights to marriage, is ill fated and ill timed, as the fighter reportedly stands to lose endorsement deals and may lower pay-per-view purchases for a fight already projected to not do well when he faces Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Even further than that though is the odd fact that Pacquiao trains in one of the most liberal cities in America, as his Wild Card Gym is located in Hollywood, California.
Pacquiao was banned from conducting an interview at the famous Grove mall for his comments against gay marriage, and it would not be surprising to see the liberal masses try to run the eight-time champion out of their city.
MAYWEATHER CHIMES IN VIA TWEET
Of course, Floyd Mayweather Jr. threw in his opinion and just where he stands on the position via his Twitter account on Tuesday, which by the way has an astounding 2,858,653 followers.
?I stand behind President Obama & support gay marriage. I?m an American citizen & I believe people should live their life the way they want.?
