It’s really
very simple. The oldest story in our game. Young Mexican lion vs. Old
black lion that has never lost to a Mexican. Live on HBO PPV. You’ll
hear the familiar refrain all night “Mosley has never been stopped and
never lost to a Mexican. Will both of those things happen tonight?” If
you listen to anyone on press row, twitter, facebook or anywhere else
that matters, Shane Mosley has no shot. Last year, Golden Boy Boxing
namesake and founder Oscar De La Hoya referred to Mosley as a punching
when the Pomona-born 40 year old was set to fight Manny Pacquaio. Fast
forward to Saturday night and Mosley is the co-feature to Floyd
Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto, another familiar tale that should be
directed by Michael Bay. In the midst of this over-priced storybook are
two very real things: Floyd Mayweather is the present and Saul Alvarez,
should he knock Shane Mosley out in clean fashion, could very well be
the future.
“I am very happy to be able to fight Sugar Shane,” Saul “Canelo” Alvarez told leaveitintheringradio.com. “He is a legend. I am also very thankful for my fans who support me. I have trained very hard for this fight.”
Not one to mince words, Saul Alvarez is the pay per view heir apparent most likely to not implode. Whether he is in Mexico or Big Bear, CA, Alvarez is always at the ready, studying film, working on some moves in the gym and preparing to step up to the super star level.
"There’s no pressure going into the fight. I am just going to do the work in the ring. If anything, I am motivated by it. I’ve learned a lot of new things. I watch a lot videos and I watch my fights. It’s definitely going to show inside the ring,” said Alvarez.
In September of 2010, Alvarez scored a stunner of a bomb highlight reel knockout that put Carlos Baldomir’s ancient lights out. Since then, Alvarez has gone the distance with Mathew Hatton and Lovemore Ndou and finished 2011 by taking out Ryan Rhodes in 12 and getting early stoppage wins over Alfonso Gomez and Kermit Cintron.
When asked if the lack of a clean conclusion is frustrating as opposed to a Baldomir homerun, Alvarez answered “I want to finish them but I am satisfied with the wins. The refs are there to protect the fighter so I am not going to criticize them. They are there to protect the fighters and I am there to do mine.”
Alvarez didn’t have a long amateur career. At just 21, he has 40 pro fights but with maybe 20 amateur to add on. He’s still developing. He seemed to welcome going the distance with Mosley.
“I believe that the fights that go the distance teach me a lot more. I get more experience from that. I understand that styles are different. I just do the best I can in the ring and see how things play out,” he said.
There are some in the media who criticize Canelo for getting his junior middleweight belt against a welterweight and others say he is protected by the WBC. But the politics of the sport along with the business should not be confused with the talent. The talent’s job is to be talented and for 40 fights Saul Alvarez has been that with whoever is in front of him.
“There’s always going to be critics but as long as you do your job inside the ring and show and prove them wrong then everything will be good,” said the easy-going fighter.
If there is a criticism of Canelo it’s likely in the defensive department. He is stiff up top and rarely moves his head fluidly side to side on a regular basis. Some people will tell you that this will be a problem with Mosley. It says here it won’t. Mosley is not a power puncher at 154. He hits hard but he is hits one at a time. Added to which he throws wide and will tire. Alvarez is learning to time and step back to counter. And he has a strong sense of range and a solid jab to set it all up. Mosley is in trouble.
“We are aware of that issue and we are working on that,” Alvarez said of his defense. “I am planning to be careful in the ring. Mosley hits hard and I know the right hand is probably his best weapon.”
Like Miguel Cotto before him, Alvarez is a thinking man’s fighter; Stoic on the surface, jovial underneath and living in the present. You’ll never hear either man talk about he thinks the fight will go much less who he would like to fight beyond this.
“I am only thinking about Mosley,” said Alvarez. “I am focused on Mosley. But I am here to fight anyone. I’ll fight anyone. I heard that Oscar De La Hoya had made some comments about Kirkland. I’ll fight anyone. I’ll fight Mayweather or Cotto. But if they are not ready, I will fight whoever is ready.”
Alvarez and Mosley are part of a history making venture on the card. In the main event, Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto will be undergoing Nevada State Athletic Commission and United States Anti-Doping drug testing. Mosley and Alvarez will undo NSAC testing as well as Voluntary Anti-Doping Association testing. Per Mayweather Promotions, according to one source, the co-feature had to undergo some sort of drug screening beyond Nevada’s protocols and VADA was brought in. Alvarez is more than happy to be a part of the drug free fight wave growing in boxing.
“I think it’s great for boxing,” he said. “If you don’t have anything to hide, it should not be a problem. They just show up and they take the blood. They don’t tell you when. And it’s great. If you don’t have anything to hide, you shouldn’t worry about it.”
Alvarez is already a growing name in the sport. His ratings in Mexico rival soccer. But to truly be respected among the fighters as opposed to the network execs, he has to knock Shane Mosley out. He has to do what no one else has. If he agrees, he isn’t saying.
“As I mature, beating a guy like Mosley would teach me a lot of things,” he explained. “I am very motivated with the fight. I am just very honored to be fighting Mosley.”
“I am very happy to be able to fight Sugar Shane,” Saul “Canelo” Alvarez told leaveitintheringradio.com. “He is a legend. I am also very thankful for my fans who support me. I have trained very hard for this fight.”
Not one to mince words, Saul Alvarez is the pay per view heir apparent most likely to not implode. Whether he is in Mexico or Big Bear, CA, Alvarez is always at the ready, studying film, working on some moves in the gym and preparing to step up to the super star level.
"There’s no pressure going into the fight. I am just going to do the work in the ring. If anything, I am motivated by it. I’ve learned a lot of new things. I watch a lot videos and I watch my fights. It’s definitely going to show inside the ring,” said Alvarez.
In September of 2010, Alvarez scored a stunner of a bomb highlight reel knockout that put Carlos Baldomir’s ancient lights out. Since then, Alvarez has gone the distance with Mathew Hatton and Lovemore Ndou and finished 2011 by taking out Ryan Rhodes in 12 and getting early stoppage wins over Alfonso Gomez and Kermit Cintron.
When asked if the lack of a clean conclusion is frustrating as opposed to a Baldomir homerun, Alvarez answered “I want to finish them but I am satisfied with the wins. The refs are there to protect the fighter so I am not going to criticize them. They are there to protect the fighters and I am there to do mine.”
Alvarez didn’t have a long amateur career. At just 21, he has 40 pro fights but with maybe 20 amateur to add on. He’s still developing. He seemed to welcome going the distance with Mosley.
“I believe that the fights that go the distance teach me a lot more. I get more experience from that. I understand that styles are different. I just do the best I can in the ring and see how things play out,” he said.
There are some in the media who criticize Canelo for getting his junior middleweight belt against a welterweight and others say he is protected by the WBC. But the politics of the sport along with the business should not be confused with the talent. The talent’s job is to be talented and for 40 fights Saul Alvarez has been that with whoever is in front of him.
“There’s always going to be critics but as long as you do your job inside the ring and show and prove them wrong then everything will be good,” said the easy-going fighter.
If there is a criticism of Canelo it’s likely in the defensive department. He is stiff up top and rarely moves his head fluidly side to side on a regular basis. Some people will tell you that this will be a problem with Mosley. It says here it won’t. Mosley is not a power puncher at 154. He hits hard but he is hits one at a time. Added to which he throws wide and will tire. Alvarez is learning to time and step back to counter. And he has a strong sense of range and a solid jab to set it all up. Mosley is in trouble.
“We are aware of that issue and we are working on that,” Alvarez said of his defense. “I am planning to be careful in the ring. Mosley hits hard and I know the right hand is probably his best weapon.”
Like Miguel Cotto before him, Alvarez is a thinking man’s fighter; Stoic on the surface, jovial underneath and living in the present. You’ll never hear either man talk about he thinks the fight will go much less who he would like to fight beyond this.
“I am only thinking about Mosley,” said Alvarez. “I am focused on Mosley. But I am here to fight anyone. I’ll fight anyone. I heard that Oscar De La Hoya had made some comments about Kirkland. I’ll fight anyone. I’ll fight Mayweather or Cotto. But if they are not ready, I will fight whoever is ready.”
Alvarez and Mosley are part of a history making venture on the card. In the main event, Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto will be undergoing Nevada State Athletic Commission and United States Anti-Doping drug testing. Mosley and Alvarez will undo NSAC testing as well as Voluntary Anti-Doping Association testing. Per Mayweather Promotions, according to one source, the co-feature had to undergo some sort of drug screening beyond Nevada’s protocols and VADA was brought in. Alvarez is more than happy to be a part of the drug free fight wave growing in boxing.
“I think it’s great for boxing,” he said. “If you don’t have anything to hide, it should not be a problem. They just show up and they take the blood. They don’t tell you when. And it’s great. If you don’t have anything to hide, you shouldn’t worry about it.”
Alvarez is already a growing name in the sport. His ratings in Mexico rival soccer. But to truly be respected among the fighters as opposed to the network execs, he has to knock Shane Mosley out. He has to do what no one else has. If he agrees, he isn’t saying.
“As I mature, beating a guy like Mosley would teach me a lot of things,” he explained. “I am very motivated with the fight. I am just very honored to be fighting Mosley.”
