Alvarez vs Cintron: Canelo Alvarez's Greatest Hits (Video)

by Scott Christ on Nov 24, 2011 1:15 PM EST in Boxing Video - HBO

Though he's only 21 years old and has yet to face a truly world-class opponent, young Mexican phenom Canelo Alvarez already has his own HBO Greatest Hits video. In fact, he had it months ago, even before beating Ryan Rhodes on June 18 and Alfonso Gomez on September 17.

On Saturday, Canelo appears in his third HBO main event of the year, and fourth fight for the network, when he faces Puerto Rico's Kermit Cintron.

Alvarez (38-0-1, 28 KO) has fought just one time since May 2010 without HBO backing of some kind, and that was for his July 2010 win over Luciano Cuello. He's been featured on two Mayweather pay-per-views (Mosley and Ortiz), and the latter he got to sell his own house in Los Angeles, because he's a bankable enough star to do that.

The guys he's been beating follow a pattern -- generally aging or outright old, and usually smaller than him. Jose Miguel Cotto, Carlos Baldomir and Lovemore N'dou were all pretty old fighters, and though Ryan Rhodes was a top ten-type guy at the time, he was in his mid-30s too. Matthew Hatton and Alfonso Gomez weren't so far past their best, but they were welterewights.

Now you have Cintron, who hasn't done much at 154 pounds (or much at all, really, other than have a reputation and a lot of TV appearances), and has looked worn out in his last two fights. Maybe he's a step up, but if he is, it's still a small step. 2012 could be the year where Canelo adds quality to his quantity, but his final fight of 2011 is really more of the same on paper.

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HE has a GREATEST Hit? Sheesh… next thing you know, we’ll have Andy Lee or McEwan’s greatest hits… wtf! Unworthy!

"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."

by cylee1180 on Nov 24, 2011 2:57 PM EST reply actions

If it was Chavez Jr i might complain (but even then i probably wouldn’t bother)
In Canelo’s case, he has actually beat rated guys in his own division, and seen as he’s got an HBO fight this Saturday, i think it’s fair enough to give him the spotlight.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 24, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

I can see the market value and the cause of “Greatest Hits”, but lots of fighters (objectively) beat ranked opponents. It’s simply b/c he’s being groomed for superstardom… but he really wasn’t in any great fights or in with any great opponents yet. We’re not talking Forrest/Mosley, De La Hoya Trinidad, Whitaker Chavez etc. We’re talking Alvarez Rhodes! He’s asking to be exposed in my opinion. Slow and powerful and technically sound, however, I don’t find him special. But we’ll see some good fights in 2012. Pc!

"According to all the laws of aerodynamics the bumble-bee should not fly, but the bumble-bee does not know this and so flies anyway."

by cylee1180 on Nov 24, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

I know what you mean. He’s a star before he really should be.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 24, 2011 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

Saying that i see a lot of potential in him. Much, much more than i do in Cahvez Jr, for example.
I’m not saying that i think Canelo will be great, but i think he will be a legit champion and i’m sure he will be in some great fights.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 24, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

Of course the new golden boy has a greatest hits. I like young Canelo, he can swing with the best of them and I’m glad to see a new star emerging, but I’m not yet convinced he’s on his way to being truly special. It’s hard to know if it’s poor defense or just laziness against inferior competition, but he eats too many punches for my liking. Bound to catch up with him when he fights a real puncher.

by AndrewDM on Nov 24, 2011 3:47 PM EST reply actions

At the very least i’m sure he will be in some memorable fights.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 24, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

I think his defense is underrated. He can be a slick character…………..and looking at his face, it doesn’t look like he’s eaten too many punches.

by DPlainview on Nov 25, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

he’s been improving defensively gradually. he’ll get to a good place at this pace soon enough.

by The Twillness on Nov 25, 2011 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

I noticed they left out the Gomez fight.

Great highlights, but I still can’t wait to see Canelo against tougher competition. I would like him to take the reigns as the next great fighter. He reminds me of a young but harder hitting Cotto. If he can defend himself a little better his career should blossom.

by Clove_art on Nov 24, 2011 5:37 PM EST reply actions