EXACTLY how good is Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez?
It’s a question that has often been asked since the flame-haired Mexican emerged as a prodigy fresh off a gruelling circuit which had seen him fight more than 30 times before his 20th birthday. Now a star at just 23 years of age, Alvarez seems to have crossed over without meeting many of his fellow top 10 light-middleweight colleagues.
His victory over Austin Trout ticked the necessary boxes, even if the scores were perhaps too wide in Canelo’s favour. Nonetheless, there was a feeling of fated acceptance when he struggled to pin down Floyd Mayweather in a clear (yet controversially scored) defeat. In some ways, CJ Ross’ scarcely believable drawn scorecard saved the aftermath from ignominy, as it gave the public something to bemoan regarding the fight, which otherwise passed without real incident as Mayweather coasted past the latest heir apparent.
It leaves Alvarez in an awkward position going into his upcoming bout with Alfredo Angulo, scheduled for March 8. Having been lauded and paraded, he has lost his unbeaten record. Having been elevated into some pound-for-pound top ten lists, he has just one truly significant victory on his ledger. It would be strange if it was not boxing. To add to the complication, he now faces a man with testified heavy hands. Angulo has been outboxed and out-gunned before, but in felling Erislandy Lara twice in his last fight, he showed a level of high-intensity brawling Alvarez has not yet seen, even if Angulo did eventually succumb to defeat on that occasion.
The problem appears that Alvarez has been set too high a bar. It could be argued he was rushed into the Mayweather fight, possibly due to Mayweather’s contractual need for a decent opponent, rather than it being healthy for Alvarez’s career development. Where was the crossroads fight with Puerto Rican rival Miguel Cotto? Surely that, along with bouts against other up-and-comers, such as the aforementioned Lara, would have been more sensible in bringing Alvarez along? He is undoubtedly well-honed, but perhaps it is simply the inability to reconcile talent with hype – an issue that has befallen countless prospects in the past – that leaves me feeling slightly underwhelmed with Alvarez thus far. Then again, when such great expectations are placed on such young shoulders disappointment is tempted.
Against Angulo, Alvarez will be able to remind us all exactly how good he is. He may not be a pound-for-pound number one in the making, but there are no doubt more titles and recognition in waiting. He has been promoted to the hilt and now the Canelo brand will begin to mature. The chances may be that Alvarez will simply be an exciting fighter to watch, a fighter who sells well, a fighter who has a tear up and picks up world titles every now and then. Heaven forbid a talented young fighter could simply be very good in his own right and not the “next someone else”.
One thing is for sure, Alvarez needs to stack up the wins column with relevant names, and Alfredo Angulo is a good place to start. It offers Alvarez an open and willing opponent, someone who will give and receive. It should be an excellent clash of styles while it lasts. Should Alvarez struggle, he could be classed as exciting, but not elite. Should he dispose of Angulo, with the requisite ease of course, his star image be re-inforced. Either way, important answers will be provided.
