by Rick Reeno

In a recent news item on BoxingScene.com, rising Mexican star Saul "Canelo" Alvarez made a few statements regarding his desire to fight Manny Pacquiao. Alvarez, 20-years-old, wants to fight Pacquiao by the end of 2011/early 2012. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, found the comments absurd.

Roach admits Alvarez is a very popular fighter in Mexico, but at the same time the veteran trainer doesn't believe he means much in the United States, and the name recognition is not there with the fans. Roach would like to see Alvarez accept a fight with his Mexican rival Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who is also trained by Roach.

"[Pacquiao-Alvarez] might do well in Mexico. Saul Alvarez, maybe some people in America know him. What kind of market does he do over here? I think it's a ridiculous idea. He won't even fight Chavez Jr. let alone Manny Pacquiao," Roach said to BoxingScene.com.