By James Slater: According to Alfonso Gomez himself (via his Facebook page) and Boxrec.com, it will be the former “Contender” star who will be the next challenger for WBA 154-pound champ Saul Alvarez. The date being spoken of is September 17th; the venue The Staples Centre in L.A.
September 17th is of course the night superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior will return to the ring, against reigning WBC welterweight ruler Victor Ortiz, and there has been talk of both cards being available to fans on a Pay-Per-View basis. With Erik Morales also fighting on the Mayweather-Ortiz “Star Power” card (against Britain’s Anthony Crolla), it will be some night if fans get to see all three big fights.
Alvarez-Gomez is pretty much a natural fight to make right now. Gomez is a big enough name to attract the fans, while at the same time he is not considered too dangerous a challenger for the still-developing “Canelo.” Also, 30-year-old Gomez has an exciting fighting style and can be relied upon to take the fight right to his 20-year-old champion of an opponent. 154-pounds might be a little high for Gomez, who has fought his best fights down at welterweight, but the former WBA 147-pound title challenger won’t be expected to be blown away by Alvarez if he indeed faces him in September.
Gomez is excited about the fight, telling 3morerounds.com that he “will win by knockout!” As the fight has not been made official as of yet, Alvarez has not commented on what he thinks about facing Gomez, but if the fight is made, Alvarez will be made a pretty big favourite to win.
Canelo turns 21 next Monday, and his next fight will already be his third world title contest. Being groomed for stardom as he is (some say he has already found stardom, and he does pull in massive numbers on Mexican T.V), the WBC champ will be in no mood to come unstuck or to even struggle with Gomez, 23-4-2(12). It’s been quite a while since Alvarez even lost a round in a fight, and he looked good last time out against the experienced Ryan Rhodes. Gomez’ only possible advantage when looking at the stats of the two men is he has a little more experience at top level than does Canelo (having been in with Cotto, Gatti, Castillo, Manfredo, Etc), but in light of how Alvarez made veteran Rhodes look so ordinary, Gomez can think again if he thinks he will know too much for the champion.
Alvarez hasn’t exactly destroyed an opponent in quite a while, and I’d be surprised if he steamrolled Gomez. Stopped only by the mighty Cotto back in the spring of 2008 a (5th-round corner retirement) and winner of five straight since, the man born in Guadalajara will no doubt enter the September fight feeling full of confidence (he is, after all, already predicting a KO win!). I can see the fast-handed Gomez winning a couple of the early rounds and making Alvarez think about things in there – before the naturally bigger man begins to find his range and unload. If this fight were being fought at welter, I’d give Gomez a much better chance – but it’s not and I don’t.
I go for Canelo, 37-0-1(27) to win a lively encounter by way of a mid to late-rounds stoppage.