A Boxing Prospect to watch out for in 2011- Saul Alvarez

 

       
2010 solidified Saul Alvarez as one of the hottest prospects in the boxing game at the moment. Golden Boy Promotions did a good job in putting him on big shows be it him facing of against Jose Miguel Cotto on the Mayweather-Mosley under card (won via 9^th round TKO) or being on the Mosley-Mora show (6^th round stoppage of Carlos Baldomir). They have not made any mistakes with him yet on the part of Golden Boy, as they did with the talented Danny Jacobs and Victor Ortiz, which has meant that Alvarez has racked up a impressive 35-0-1 (26 KO’s) since he turned professional in 2005. Interestingly he claims he has 13 more wins which don't appear on his record. There is another statistic for the Mexican which fans point to- he’s 20 years old. Despite his young age he already has a significant amount of hype and fanfare around him. Mexicans come to watch him fight in droves, be it in his homeland or in America. Golden Boy are trying to capitalise on his popularity which was reflected by his 5 fights last year (of which only one opponent lasted the distance). He was fighting on an average of about every 2.5 months which gave the fans a lot to see.

Saul Alvarez does not have the blinding speed of a Guilmero Rigondeux. He does no have the crunching power of a David Lemiux. You also can't throw combinations as well as a James Kirkland. Yet what he does have he puts it all together as well as anyone at the age of 20. In the impressive performance against Carlos Baldmoir he showed this. He put all of his punches together well and finished the indestructible Baldomir. While the tough Argentine was clearly not the same boxer who beat Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti he still pressed Alvarez. He still caught the Mexican with some good shots. Yet his chin could not withstand the monstrous left hook that planted his face on the canvas Ala Paul Williams. Not long before this Alvarez showed heart in withstanding a assault by Jose Miguel Cotto and came back to stop him later on in the 9th.
 
Its important that Alvarez is moving down a weight class to welterweight. His handlers have previously said he is a natural welterweight and needs to bulk up to make 154. This won't do things such as his power and speed any favours. However he was stepping up clearly in competition at 154 with opponents like Cotto and Baldomir. 147 holds the two best boxers on the planet in Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.  These two only have a few fights between them left (if Mayweather is even going to fight again) and Pacquiao will most likely be looking at the Bradley-Alexander winner or Juan Manuel Marquez. He is to far into his career to be wanting fights against the likes of prospects. Apart from them there is only really Andre Berto, the WBC champion. That would be a marketable fight. HBO have carefully groomed Berto taking few risks with him. If Alvarez looks as good at welter weight as he did higher it certainly will be a risky fight. But Alvarez with his large following and strong promoter would make this a big bucks fight.

Despite having fought as early as December he has another fight scheduled for March against Britain’s Matthew Hatton (41-4) who currently holds the European title, which is appears will not be on the line. I like this match up- Hatton last lost in 2008 to the talented Craig Watson and has since been on a bit of run going 8-0-1 stopping 3 of these opponents. These opponents he has been beating have been the definition of European class opposition and the fact that he has only stopped 3 shows a distinct lack of power. The one characteristic that he brings into this fight which Alvarez has not seen before is a consistent body attack (I’m sure he developed those through sparring with his brother, Ricky Hatton). The only question most fans is can Hatton extend Alvarez the full 12 or will he stop the tough Mancunian? Look for Alvarez to stop Hatton before the 10th round. After hopefully Alvarez gets in a few more fights this year. He could take step up in competition and face England's Kell Brook or Victor Ortiz. Selcuk Aydin is a good boxer and presents a knockout risk. Whoever he chooses to fight look for Alvarez to be on the minds of boxing fans and one of the ones to watch out for this year.

RingsideReport 2011: Will 2011 be the year of the 'Filipino Flash'?

RingsideReport 2011: Will 2011 be the year of the 'Filipino Flash'?: "Will 2011 be the year of the ‘Filipino Flash’? There are a few scheduled fights this year which have captured boxing fans attention su..."

Will 2011 be the year of the 'Filipino Flash'?

Will 2011 be the year of the ‘Filipino Flash’?

There are a few scheduled fights this year which have captured boxing fans attention such as Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander and Wladmir Klitschko vs. Tomasz Adamak (which is as good as signed apparently). The first true super fight of the year is a clash between a boxer in most pound for pound lists and the other has been knocking on it for a while. This is the fight between Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel. Before I look into this I think it would be prudent to look into Donaire’s last few years inside of the boxing ring.

Despite having a strong amateur career Donaire (currently at 25-1, 17 by KO) did not turn pro with that much fanfare. Indeed he would not have been on most boxing fans radars until he signed to fight IBF and IBO reigning flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan in 2007. Donaire took it upon himself to hurt the man who had previously beaten his brother (Glen Donaire) and that was what the fight seemed too hyped around. Donaire surprised the fans and the bookmakers with a perfect textbook left hook in the 5^th round which sent Darchinyan to the floor. Darchinyan had been doing well in the fight and was clipping Donaire with some powerful southpaw lefts. His awkward crablike style seemed to offset Donaire and confuse him. However it was eventually detrimental- Darchinyan was caught with the left hook when leaning into a punch as only he does. After this impressive knockout win (which earned Donaire both knockout of the year and upset of the year as well as the brace of titles) fans were clamouring to see him again.

Since that win 3 and a half years ago Donaire has gone 7-0 (6 by KO) and has moved up to the super flyweight division and has stopped at bantam weight. However it’s hard to imagine the 5 foot 6 Filipino staying at this weight class. As some interviews suggest we may be seeing a weight drained Donaire until he settles down at around 126 pounds. But still what a Donaire we have seen so far. Its rare casual boxing fans know the names of guys below the lightweight division. Yet boxing fans are now seemingly aware of brilliant talents such as Yuriorkis Gamboa, Juan Manuel Lopez, Abner Mares and Nonito Donaire. This interest has meant he has been on big stages often, yet unfortunately often he is playing second fiddle to a bigger main event. The reasons for this are obvious- there are no real natural rivals to challenge him. That is why I believe he is knocking on the door of being placed into a pound for pound list and not already there. Noticeably at flyweight he could have faced of against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam. As a super flyweight there was Hugo Cazares. But that’s about it seemingly. Not a lot to pick from. He has beaten some good fighters such as undefeated Raul Martinez, an old Luis Maldonado and former champion Volodymyr Sydorenko. Good wins but not opponents fans should be shouting about in reality. It’s the way he’s been winning; he’s looked sensational in most fights.

Yet on the 19^th February Nonito Donaire will be facing a completely different animal. Fernando Montiel (44-2, 34 by KO) will present a huge challenge for him on paper. Personally I fell Donaire is too strong, too powerful, too big and to quick for Montiel. However a Montiel win should not be considered a shock at all, he doesn’t hold two title belts for nothing. If Donaire were to win what would 2011 bring for him? As it would be early in the year you would expect at least one more fight, with one hopefully at the end of the year. What are the best options for him? At 118 there is a lot of talent to pick from. A rematch with Vic Darchinyan would not be as tasty as it would a few years ago when Darchinyan looked unbeatable. Joseph Agbeko is taking on Abner Mares for the IBF strap while old foe Darchyinan is taking on Yohnny Perez. Both are happening in mid April. After this they will all be free. Fans would love to see Donaire take on either winner, especially the winner who has won both fights in the tournament be it either Agbeko or Mares. That later on in the year would be an excellent clash of styles, especially if it’s the brilliant Mares who prevails. If that’s not an option for whatever reason up at is long time reigning WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka. Or how about Wilfredo Vasquez Jr the WBO super bantam weight champion? After Vasquez he beats up Jorge Arce (in what could be a fight of the year) he would be free later on in the year. If Donaire beats Montiel he certainly has a number of options to look at. If he faces any of the above opponents mentioned, 2011 will definatly be the year of the ‘Filipino Flash’.