Very rarely do we get lucky as fight fans. We learn to expect disappointment; it just comes natural. So, when two undefeated young bucks, each on the verge of greatness, meet up, it?s a sight to behold. That sight will be transfixed on the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, when Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) takes on Austin Trout (26-0, 14 KOs) for the WBC junior middleweight title. The belt, for the most part, means nothing, but the pride and the opportunity at a fall date with Floyd Mayweather means everything. This is a dream fight.
Perhaps, the easiest comparison to make is Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Pernell Whitaker at the very same building. However, that?s amateur, lazy work. In fact, the far more relevant comparison is that of Oscar De La Hoya vs. Ike Quartey. One was the heavily promoted, undefeated dream boy and the other, Quartey, was the real pugilist of the bunch. Quartey exposed De La Hoya as a pretty boy, but he didn?t do enough to crush the hype and earn a decision victory. De La Hoya stole victory on that night, but his reputation was never the same. Can Alvarez overcome the reputation of a fighter who is more than a pretty, marketable face? Can Trout transcend the rigors that have been placed on him throughout his career? This is a fight that has the high drama of an old-west shootout and it?s venue, San Antonio, is quite appropriate for such affairs. This will be a fight that exposes truths and extinguishes phonies.
Of the opponents, Saul Alvarez had a far easier rout to this date than Austin Trout. His promising exploits as a 15 year old pugilist in Mexico raised enough flags to label Canelo as the easy heir apparent to Mexican boxing greatness. While his opponent list has been mediocre to say the least, he?s given no reason to doubt him; he?s dominated every opponent he?s faced with ease. However, the one remaining knock on his abilities has been the fact that he?s never faced a true world class opponent. Yeah, he?s undefeated, but can he handle a skilled technician? Yeah, he packs a punch, but will his slow hands be easy pickings for a quicker counterpuncher? These are all questions that have been on the forefront of boxing minds. To his credit, Alvarez has shown that his heart is fully in the sport and that he has an insatiable desire to excel. Luckily for him, his opponent list has provided him an easy route, but one can not discredit a young, hungry undefeated fighter. Couple that with his lead-laden right hand, and you have the profile of a boxer who is ready to break through to mainstream stardom. Trout may be the better boxer, but Alvarez is surely capable of willing himself to victory.
Austin Trout will provide the answers to the questions plaguing Alvarez. Trout learned the hard way the ins and outs of the boxing game. His early career was devoid of the smart, slick promoter? in fact, his early career was devoid of the most basic of support. Managers, Trainers and Agents were all of the local variety. In fact, it wasn?t until he signed with super-manager Al Haymon that his career finally moved out of the stall seat. Despite these challenged, the child from Alburquerqe persevered and established himself as one of the most skilled boxers in the game. His jab has proven to be a dominant range finder ? as Miguel Cotto can attest to. His right hand has proven equally adebt. More importantly, he?s shown a ring generalship and full range of motion that indicates that there is little that confuses this young man. Trout may be the best young boxer in the game, and that?s not a promotional statement. He?s really good at making tough opponents look silly. However, he?s not beaten a young, hungry, world-class fighter. That?s why questions still remain. Can he overcome the Alvarez hype? Can he transcend the storyline, and upset the apple cart?
These are all the pressing questions that will be answered in this very special fight. My prediction? Trout outboxes Alvarez, but the notoriously shaky Texas State Athletic Commission knows who its daddy is? they will give a biased, unfair decision to Alvarez, and he will coast into a massive fall mega fight with Floyd Mayweather.
