By Jake Donovan
‘Win today, look good the next time’ need not apply in the search for a future superstar.
Though just 20 years young, Saul Alvarez already gets it.
Merely looking good today means less interest the next time you appear. Alvarez (34-0-1, 26KO) always wants to put on a show for his fans – and to date has yet to disappoint in that regard.
In that vain, there is perhaps a little extra pressure to look good against Lovemore N’Dou, a former titlist who doesn’t always place entertainment value at the top of his priority list. In addition to his normal televised showcase on Mexico network giant Televisa, the rising young Mexican contender will also be available to stateside viewers, as the bout will air live on HBO Latino from Veracruz, Mexico.
Alvarez has appeared on the network before, but only via tape-delay. This will be his first test run in real time, paving the way for big plans that promoter Golden Boy Promotions has in store for him in the near future.
“I was happy to see HBO Latino agree to televise this fight,” states Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “They are on board to have him appear three times in the next year – at least once or possibly twice in Mexico, but also live from the United States. His bouts from Mexico will continue to air on Televisa. We plan to build him up in the states, but it’s also important to showcase his talents in his home country.”
The decision to persuade HBO Latino to enter the fold came from the overwhelmingly positive feedback generated from a tape-delayed airing of his sixth round knockout over former lineal welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir this past September.
“The fight pulled in unbelievable ratings,” Schaefer reveals. “It was a no-brainer for everyone involved to put him on in a live showcase.”
Alvarez and Golden Boy have enjoyed a working relationship for the past couple of years, including a premium undercard slot on the May 1 PPV headlined by Floyd Mayweather’s whitewash of Shane Mosley, an event that sold 1.5 million units. The marriage became official earlier this summer, with the announcement that he would serve as chief support to another pay-per-view event.
This time around, Alvarez wasn’t just along for the ride, but flat out stole the show. His knockout of Baldomir was impressive in that the moment came in highlight reel fashion, not to mention that the iron-chinned Argentinean had only been stopped once before in a career that has spanned 17 years.
But well before Alvarez flattened Baldomir in jaw-dropping fashion, Golden Boy already knew that they had in their stable something special.
“When you look back to September 18 at the Staples Center, that’s when it really hit everyone just how big this kid truly is,” Schaefer recalls of Alvarez’ ringwalk on a night headlined by a stinker between Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora.
Given the lack of entertainment provided by the main event, it wasn’t hard for a fighter of Alvarez’ ilk to steel the show. But even more telling was the revelation of how many people were there in support of the undefeated welterweight more so than either of the main event participants.
“Everyone talks so much about Saul Alvarez before and after that fight,” Schaefer states. “When he walked into the ring, you had those 13,000 people cheer as if he were the main event.
“We knew that a superstar was born on that night.”
Alvarez already enjoys star status in Mexico. The plan now is to make him a crossover star in the United States, although it doesn’t necessarily mean a mad dash towards the title picture.
“He’s 20 years young, and there is no need to rush,” states Schaefer, spoken like a man who learned from past mistakes. A series of circumstances led to their taking a chance on rushing Daniel Jacobs into a title shot, and it failed miserably.
The difference between the two fighters, though, was that Jacobs’ leap in competition was massive, whereas Alvarez has enjoyed a steady upgrade, including his stiffest test to date when he faces N’Dou this weekend.
When the right time comes, Golden Boy is confident that their young stud will be ready. That time just doesn’t have to be now, although plans are already in motion for a big year in 2011.
“As (Alvarez) states, he wants to fight everybody. He wants the biggest names in the sport. I see a big year for him. He wants his first belt at 2011. That is definitely the plan and we would like for it to be at welterweight before he grows out of the division.
“For now, he has a tough test in front of him this weekend. But assuming he wins, we will sit down with his team and see what we can do at welterweight to fight for a title when the time is right.”
His longing to fight everybody aside, Alvarez is content with the direction in which Golden Boy plans to take his career.
Both agree that 2011 is the year in which he fights for his first major title, but it doesn’t have to be his first fight of the year. In fact, this time next year might be the most ideal time, after he has celebrated his 21st birthday and officially make the transformation from boy to man.
Whenever that moment comes when he’s ready for the absolute best, Alvarez is confident that his stateside promoter will come through.
“I’m really happy with Golden Boy. They’re a big company and know how to put on a big event and get behind their fighters.”
As long as both entities continue to do what they do best, there’s no question that Alvarez will soon become that fighter headlining their big events.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .