Canelo vs. Kirkland – Recap and Aftermath
Analysis:
Two weekends after Canelo vs Kirkland, the fan reaction has unanimously been this fight did not dissapoint. An early candidate for knock out of the year, it was an impressive win for Canelo.
The young Mexican, Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KO), not only drew $31,000+ fans to Houston TX Arena, he captured 2.3 million viewers on HBO Boxing. This, according to Dan Rafael, was the highest non-pay per view ranking since 2006 (article).
Golden Boy’s decision to bring Canelo back to HBO is paying off. The junior middle-weight is now out of the Floyd Mayweather shadow since leaving Showtime. At 24 years young, Canelo is on track to proving why he’s the future of boxing. To do so, he will need to draw the casual fans interest by fighting fan friendly fights as he did agianst Kirkland.
When I heard Canelo was going to face James Kirkland (31-1, 28 KO), it sounded like a high-risk, low-reward matchup. Apparently, I was wrong.
Canelo took care of business in such impressive fashion, I doubt Gennady Golovkin will drop to 154 to face the Mexican superstar. It would be up to GGG if he really wants his opportunity at a "big fight". Look for his camp to want the fight at 160 pounds (as a result of Canelo's recent performance).
Canelo looked very comfortable fightin at 154 pounds against Kirkland. Every left hook and uppercut landed with mean intentions. Once Canelo realized Kirkland’s power was more myth, than legend his confidence grew. By the third round, viewers were hoping Kirkland would stay down in what was turning into a brutal fight. A perfect left hook landed flush on Kirkland’s jaw as he was throwing a punch putting an exclamation point on a one sided fight. It was Canelo's best knock out of his career.
Just one week after the snooze fest thatt was Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquioa, Canelo gave the boxing world what it really wanted, a high punch volume knock out victory.
Let’s not discredit Kirkland, aka the “Mandingo Warrior”. Kirkland looked to be in great shape even without Ann Wolf, his career-long trainer in his corner. He came out aggresively throwing with vengeance, and actually landed some clean shots pressing Canelo to the ropes early.
Unfortunately for Kirkland, Canelo quickly adjusted and got his timing down. By the end of the 1st round, Kirkland was knocked down and in trouble. This fight was a reminder to the boxing world that superstars are willing to engage and give fans a fan friendly fight, it was non-stop action from rounds one to three giving everyone their money's worth.
What is next for Canelo Alvarez?
The boxing world is calling for Miguel Cotto, in what would be a resurgence of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry. A fight between the two super stars would surely break a million pay per views, especially if scheduled for this fall 2015.
Cotto first needs to take care of Danielle Geale, a true 160 pounder with decent power, the fight is scheduled for June 6, 2015. If Cotto can win in dominant fashion perhaps it will give him the confidence to face Canelo at 160 pounds. Unlike GGG, Cotto has the clout to make Canelo move up for a lucrative fight of this nature.
If Cotto manages to avoid Canelo for yet another year, it will only mean he's scared to face the younger and possibly more talented fighter. Cotto signed with the promotional Roc Nation, I fully expect them to make a mega fight in New York later this year or May of 2016. After all, Cotto can only go for long leaving tens of millions on the table to fight lesser opponents.
Waiting in the wings will be the middle-weight champion, Gennody Golovkin, who has called out both Cotto and Canelo. At 33 years of age he's eager to make the fight happen, however, the smaller fighters Cotto and Canelo are not. They hold the cards since they are the big name and pay-per-view commodities. GGG will have be patient and hope, like the rest of us, Cotto and Canelo face each other in the fall 2015 before he can get his time to shine.
