By James Slater: In what some experts felt would be his sternest test to date, unbeaten Mexican star Saul Alvarez rose to the occasion and scored an easy-looking 5th-round TKO over big-hitting Kermit Cintron. “Canelo,” now 39-0-1(29) dropped the Puerto Rican in the 4th and stopped him a round later last night in Mexico City. The sensational 21-year-old, who pulls in enormous viewing figures whenever he fights, retained his WBC 154-pound title for the third time.
The big news came in the post-fight interview, however. In what many fans may feel is a case of Alvarez rushing things a touch, the young warrior called out superstar and P-4-P #1 Floyd Mayweather Junior.
“Next year we want the best,” Canelo is quoted as saying by USA Today. “We want Mayweather in May. Apart from the money, we want to fight the best in the world and he’s the best pound-for-pound, so we want to fight him.”
Could the match-up really take place in as little as five months time? Mayweather, 42-0(26) wants to fight again on May 5th (with The MGM Grand in Las Vegas reportedly “on hold” for Floyd’s next bout) and unless Manny Pacquiao agrees to fight him, Mayweather will be needing a suitable opponent for Mexican independence day weekend. Who is bigger in Mexico than Alvarez?
Again, the 21-year-old may need more experience and more seasoning before going in with the sublime Mayweather, but millions of fans would flock to see if Canelo could upset the 34-year-old master (Floyd will be 35 come February). Needless to say, if Alvarez could do it he would become absolutely massive!
Interestingly, Mayweather was reportedly interested in facing a teenage Alvarez a while back. Back then the very suggestion of the match-up was looked at as way too premature, but now – maybe the timing is right?
Another exciting option for Alvarez (though no way near as big a deal), is an all-Mexican clash with unbeaten WBC middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Junior. To my mind, this fight looks far more likely to happen.
As for former IBF welterweight champ Cintron, now 33-5-1(28), the 32-year-old’s only real option is that of retirement.