MAYWEATHER's Choice Is Clear: CANELO

Mayweather's choice is clear: Canelo September, 28, 2012 Sep 28 12:19 AM ET By Diego Morilla | ESPN.com http://cdn0.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/5537599/152058532_extra_large_huge.jpg The boxing calendar for 2012 is almost full, and recent history has taught us that Floyd Mayweather Jr. rarely fights more than once a year. With a tough fight against Miguel Cotto and a brief jail stint behind him, Mayweather might have accumulated just the right amount of excuses to call it a year and start drumming up interest in a big fight for early 2013. With that in mind, and with the most logical opponents (Cotto, Sergio Martinez and -- dare we say it? -- Manny Pacquiao) already headed in different directions, Mayweather's choices are now limited. But there is one natural fit. All things considered, given his energy, youth and huge appeal to fans of both sexes, his enormous (and growing) Mexican fan base and an unbeaten record to boot, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is the obvious choice. http://www.therichest.org/celebnetworth/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/floyd-mayweather.jpg Here are five reasons why Alvarez should be the leading candidate to pull the winning number in the latest Mayweather sweepstakes: 1. A crossroads fight for the ages: A young and feisty undefeated lion versus a crafty, experienced unbeaten fox? The meshing of styles is so apparent that it needs little elaboration. Alvarez, 22, is a freight train of a fighter who has power in both hands and the heart of a warrior, always charging forward with little regard for his safety. Mayweather is the lightning-fast consummate technician with seemingly unlimited resources and the boxing equivalent of Wikipedia downloaded to his brain. It's the old matador-versus-raging bull paradigm, and people have always paid to watch it. You can bet they'll pony up to witness this one. 2. Canelo has muchos amigos: Floyd always echoes the sentiments expressed in Muhammad Ali's famous analysis on the composition of his audience: "I think 100 percent of the people will come to see me," Ali used to say, "but 99 percent of those people will come to see me get beat because they think I talk too much." Whatever the percentages, there's a similar split with regard to Canelo. Most women come to see him win. A lot of guys watch to see him get his butt kicked. But the vast majority of Mexico will be watching, rooting for either cause. In any case, the likelihood of a new PPV record for a Mayweather-Canelo matchup is very high, and when the guy who has the final say on his opponent goes by the nickname "Money," that's a factor in Alvarez's favor. 3. A true fiesta for Cinco de Mayo: May 5 is a national holiday in Mexico and traditionally a blowout weekend for boxing. If you're a fight fan, you can circle that Saturday on your calendar and know you'll get to take in at least one of the year's biggest bouts that night. But at the risk of sounding jingoistic, last year's Mayweather-Cotto matchup -- an American against a Puerto Rican -- was like serving tacos, burritos and tequila at a St. Patrick's Day party. Give the fans what they want, when they want it. Mayweather versus Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend will surely draw one of the biggest TV audiences in boxing history, in no small part due to its timing. 4. The grass is not greener on the other side: A lack of options shouldn't serve as an endorsement for Alvarez, but it's impossible to get around: Mayweather's alternatives really strengthen Canelo's case. The question is, if you don't pick the kid from Jalisco, who do you pick? Martinez is banking on milking whatever is left of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. business while Junior is still marketable. Pacquiao still has who-knows-how-many-more fights with Marquez, plus a rematch with Timothy Bradley Jr., left to cash in. And Cotto will keep pricing (and maybe weighing) his way out of a Mayweather rematch until no one cares anymore. And with Amir Khan and Victor Ortiz on the rocks (and Roberto Guerrero still green at 147), Canelo is just what the doctor ordered. 5. Great possible card names: "The Young and the Restless" is already taken, but there are plenty of directions this one could be taken. "Sugar and Spice" clicked better for Canelo's bout with Shane Mosley, but it's apt here, too. And the pairing could lead to scores of clever headlines from the always-imaginative press row. "Money Talks, Cinnamon Swirls" could trumpet a Mayweather victory. Not enough reason on its own to put together a multi-million dollar boxing card, but it always helps to have some built-in entertainment value, eh? http://sports.inquirer.net/files/2012/01/mayweather15.jpg http://espn.go.com/blog/boxing/post/_/id/1521/mayweathers-choice-is-clear-canelo

Comments (20)

Following Oscar on twitter they want Cotto for May 4 , Lara/Vanes winner will have to wait til later 2013.. If Cotto gets upset maybe Mayweather vs Canelo

13y ago

Ido

Canelo is being ordered to fight the Vanes/Lara winner. Makes it hard to make a fight for Floyd/Canelo on May.

13y ago

Gino_Ros

The guy promised to fight five more times before retiring when he was promoting Cotto. It's been five months and it seems he has no intention of fighting soon. Seems spending time in jail gives him an excuse as if he did hard labor in it. Could it be that facing Canelo, who is his next most natural fight, discourages him from coming back? He's probably contemplating retirement at this point. The things people take as a "promise". lol

13y ago

kraftzman

GBP have already said they won't be throwing Canelo to the those names. However, Mayweather will be begging them for the Canelo fight now - anything to get out of fighting Martinez or Pacquiao to try to save face. The guy promised to fight five more times before retiring when he was promoting Cotto. It's been five months and it seems he has no intention of fighting soon. Seems spending time in jail gives him an excuse as if he did hard labor in it. Could it be that facing Canelo, who is his next most natural fight, discourages him from coming back? He's probably contemplating retirement at this point.

13y ago

I_Love_Jesus

Depends what you mean by better version. Physically he had more wear and tear against Floyd so he was definitely not better but he had a better gameplan, it's undeniable. Against Pac, he was doing well using his jab and boxing in the first round and then he threw his boxing skills out the window and decided to press the attack, fatal mistake. funny you're making this case for floyd cotto when you mention nothing about how floyd beat marquez. You just try to use it as a high light without mentioning the back story like you are with the other fights? Why is that? Bias? making him come up 2 divisions the not even making the weight. you just want to leave that out but spotlight cottos problems?

13y ago

WESS

GBP have already said they won't be throwing Canelo to the those names. However, Mayweather will be begging them for the Canelo fight now - anything to get out of fighting Martinez or Pacquiao to try to save face. When has Mayweather ever showed interest in Alvarez? From what I have seen the media ALWAYS brings it up and he just laughs. Besides, like you mentioned Hoya is the one saying Alvarez is not ready. The fight that should happen is Alvarez vs Cotto. The funny thing is, when and IF Mayweather where to sign and fight Sergio, everybody would jump on the Martinez is nearly 40 years old. Nobody forgot how this went down with Mosley... Everybody wanted to see that fight and as soon as it happened, people said Mosley was the walking dead, yet he was the WW Champion. Not to mention the guy that Pac fought a year later when on a non winning streak.

13y ago

Weebler_I

13y ago

Grimgash

TMT was in the works, your idol didn't want no part of it. I wonder why So pac and 50 can't make a company together they need floyd? I thought pac was a superstar and 50 was a huge promoter....

13y ago

Grimgash

50 Cent tried to get Floyd and Manny to jump ship to get the mega fight going, one person wasn't interested. Care to tell me who that person is? Jump ship to where? I still see Manny with Top Rank... so Manny? Floyd already is his own promoter and works with GBP why would he sign with a company?

13y ago

Grimgash

Also Canelo is the EASY fight to make. Floyd and GBP work together... a lot. Floyd basically tells Top Rank to suck a d***. It's not easy to get around no matter how you put it... if Manny left Top Rank and the fight wasn't made I'd call floyd a duck, but not atm.

13y ago

Grimgash

Why not take the 1st highest in ability to generate revenue? Because he's scared to lose his 0 and his health. Please tell me you're not another take quotes out of context person. You should work for Romney. The health thing was said because of the refusal of testing when offered, and he wouldn't risk his health vs. someone who could be on PEDs. Scared to lose his 0? Maybe Ill give you that but stop being silly with the other half.

13y ago

Unknown_Champ

It would sell, Canelo has a much larger fan base than Cotto does. It still doesn't make it more legit than a fight with Martinez or Pac. Whoa lets be real, Cotto always sells out in the garden, but, cinco D mayo would generate high revenue as well fighting cinnamon.

13y ago

Grimgash

this fight will never happen, not in a million years. maywyeather will not risk his "0" against a much hunger lion in alvarez When he fights him, and beats him... I'm going to laugh at you. This is the easiest fight for Floyd to make and it'll be the 2nd highest in ability to generate revenue... lets be real here.

13y ago

Fighting_Pride0173

this fight will never happen, not in a million years. maywyeather will not risk his "0" against a much hunger lion in alvarez

13y ago

The_Gambler1981

rahman was in the best mental condition of his life for his fight against povetkin. i know because i said so! wat happened? Great and completely rational comparison~ Rahman and Cotto are like the same guy at the exact same point in their career and even the same level of fighter overall~ Try harder next time, if you want to try and make a comeback against me.

13y ago

daggum

Ever hear the saying boxing is 90% mental~ Cotto was unquestionably in better mental condition for the Floyd fight. If you don't get that concept alright~ rahman was in the best mental condition of his life for his fight against povetkin. i know because i said so! wat happened?

13y ago

The_Gambler1981

When you get in the ring and someone throws a punch at you, most of that goes out of the window. I reject completely the notion Mayweather fought 'a better version of Cotto' than Pac, simply stupid and untrue. Ever hear the saying boxing is 90% mental~ Cotto was unquestionably in better mental condition for the Floyd fight. If you don't get that concept alright~

13y ago

Gino_Ros

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx229/dcrjmed2014/ws6pyjpg.gif http://i44.tinypic.com/1679vn8.gif

13y ago

CHOWWOKKA

But Manny is determined to beat a 40 year old lightweight this time. OH He's going to beat that 40 year old lightweight this time. BET ON IT

13y ago

Light_Speed

When you get in the ring and someone throws a punch at you, most of that goes out of the window. I reject completely the notion Mayweather fought 'a better version of Cotto' than Pac, simply stupid and untrue. Depends what you mean by better version. Physically he had more wear and tear against Floyd so he was definitely not better but he had a better gameplan, it's undeniable. Against Pac, he was doing well using his jab and boxing in the first round and then he threw his boxing skills out the window and decided to press the attack, fatal mistake.

13y ago