Canelo Alvarez's Next Fight: April 21, Kirkland and Mosley Being Discussed
by Scott Christ on Dec 20, 2011 5:56 PM EST
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Unless he lands a May 5 date with Floyd Mayweather Jr, the target for Canelo Alvarez's return is now April 21, and two very different opponents are being discussed.
The first is James Kirkland, which is a risky fight that many want to see. Kirkland (30-1, 27 KO) faces Carlos Molina on January 28, on HBO, and a win there could set him up for the 4/21 date with Alvarez. Both are of course promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, so the fight should be easy to make if both sides want it, and we know that Kirkland does.
The other possibility is the one that many boxing fans have been fearing for the last seven months, and one that was brought up on Twitter by the fighter himself a week ago: Shane Mosley. Mosley, 40, has been hideous in his last three fights, and hasn't won since January 2009, when he decimated Antonio Margarito, who hasn't looked good since July 2008.
I know there are some people who think that the shot Mosley is an interesting matchup for Alvarez, but count me out of that group. Mosley has nothing left in the ring and I don't care how slow or overrated you feel Alvarez is: Mosley can't pull the trigger anymore, period, and that's a problem that can't be overcome.
If we do get Alvarez vs Mosley -- and that would be my guess -- then Golden Boy needs to be called on further soft matchmaking for Canelo, because there is not a shortage of decent fights to be made at 154 pounds, and people who don't disapprove of the fight going in don't get to complain after when it looks exactly like it's going to look, just like the Cintron fight did.
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It’s getting to the point where you could almost say that JCCJr. is facing better competition than Canelo. Does Canelo have a win as good as Zbik (even if that fight was a lot closer than the judges had it)?
A fight against Kirkland would be a great sign that Alvarez’s team has confidence in him. A fight against Mosley… cripes, that’s barely a step up from fighting Baldomir. Mosley was much better in his prime, sure, but both are shot like Ol’ Yeller.
by Verklemptomaniac on Dec 20, 2011 6:06 PM EST reply actions
Rhodes was clearly a better win for Alvarez than Zbik was for Chavez. Neither looked like they belonged at world level but Rhodes had done better work for longer at 154 than Zbik had at 160. That obviously doesn’t excuse Alvarez’s subsequent fights nor a Mosley bout, but I still think his resume isn’t quite as pitiful as Chavez’s.
Good point on the weight factor, I’d forgotten that Zbik came up from 154. Still, given how piritfullt Rhodes performed (He got outlanded on power punched 192-40), I’d still lean towards saying Zbik was a better win, hometown cooking or not.
I still think Alvarez is the better fighter, mind, which makes it all the more frustrating that he keeps lining up smaller guys, guys with no punch, and shot name fighters.
by Verklemptomaniac on Dec 21, 2011 8:28 AM EST up reply actions
Zbik got robbed
bq Does Canelo have a win as good as Zbik (even if that fight was a lot closer than the judges had it)?
Zbik got utterly robbed. With fair judges, he clearly would have won. Everybody including himself had known, that he will be robbed, as Zbik is a technically very good boxer, but has unfortunately no punch. Nevertheless he tried, hoped not to be robbed, but….
Fair enough
I had Zbik winning as well, as I recall, but it was a reasonably close fight.
by Verklemptomaniac on Dec 21, 2011 8:25 AM EST up reply actions
Geez
Zbik is garbage. Rhodes is definitely a better win. When Zbik fights Proksa, people will understand how truly unimpressive that win was.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Dec 21, 2011 9:22 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Even shot Cintron is probably a better win
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Dec 21, 2011 9:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Kirland-Canelo would be amazing.
Mosley-Canelo would be…what’s the opposite of amazing? Terrible? Yeah let’s go with that.
"The person who takes a dump on you isn't always your enemy, and the person who takes you out of the dump isn't always your friend."
lets see, a dangerous young hard hitting legit jr middleweight fighter or a shot over the hill smaller fighter with an name.
lets look at alvarez’s record: matthew HATTON, jose MIGUEL COTTO, cintron, baldomir, n’dou…..hmm, tough to guess which way alvarez and golden boy will go on this one….
the only hope kirkland has in landing this fight is if he loses as badly to molina as cintron did…
canelo-mosley
i originally thought this was a good idea when it was brought up around the time of that terrible mosley-mora PPV show… canelo is only 21 still… but after seeing how disinterested mosley was in actually engaging in combat during the pacquiao fight, i feel like that ship sailed a while ago
Christ almighty thats worse than Cintron.
Sort it out GBP.
by Shitali Klitschko on Dec 20, 2011 6:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions
canelo vs mosley??
is that GBP’s brilliant tactic in bringing boxing to the people?
"Effort without Efficiency is nonsense.." -rk mag
This is even worse to me than Canelo-Cintron because Mosley was one of my very favorites over the last 15 years. I hate seeing him get beat up like this now.
What’s sad is that this matchup will probably draw a very good rating on HBO because of Canelo and Mosley’s names, and that will be used as some sort of justification. They will claim that the fans wanted to see it.
Which Mosely will show up?
There is a slight chance Canelo can reinvigorate Mosely the way Cotto did when they fought, but if Mosely doesn’t believe he can hurt Canelo, then it will be another sad fight. I still feel Mosely can still turn it on if he wants, but he’ll have to want it bad enough.
Canelo against Kirkland will be a true test, plus Mexican fans are definitely familiar with Kirkland, especially the way he desimated Angulo.
I think if Mosley was going to be reinvigorated then the Pacquiao fight would have done that. I hate to say it, but I am entirely of the belief that Mosley is finished. Alvarez will be bigger, faster, and stronger than him if they fight. I think it will be ugly.
by Kory Kitchen on Dec 20, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
Not faster...
I think Mosely knows if he can out-work a fighter he will perform. Pacquiao is nothing but punches, I think Mosely just showed up to get a check against Manny.
I still have Canelo beating Mosely, too but I believe Mosely can still make a fight competitive if he leaves it in the ring.
I don’t think Mosley will be faster than Canelo at 154, but that’s just my opinion. I think Mosley has slowed considerably. Sadly, we will probably find out.
by Kory Kitchen on Dec 20, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions
sadly, i think there is now only one mosley. that of the shot trigger shy mosley. i pray this fight doesn’t happen. and if it does, i hope i am proven wrong, like when morales faced maidana.
following this sport more closely these past few years, im starting to experience first hand one of the most difficult parts of being a boxing fan: watching a proud once-great fighter being fed to a young prospect whom he could have defeated in his prime with one arm tied behind his back. does it get any easier after you experience it a few times?
That is true..
I feel the same way, look at Roy jones Jr., Mosely hasn’t lost to a prospect yet. It doesn’t mean it won’t happen. His recent losses have been to Mayweather, and Pacquiao and a sad draw to Sergio Mora.
And Im not sold on Canelo being a monster just yet. He struggled against Alfonso Gomez despite the quick stoppage. But I do admit the odds are stacked against Mosely.
Canelo doesn’t need to be a monster to beat Mosley today. Mosley is totally shot. If you can’t see that then I don’t know…He’s got absolutely nothing left. He even noticeably slurs his words now, a telltale sign of brain damage. This fight is a disgrace. The odds aren’t just stacked, this is almost rigged.
I go by what I see in the ring.
He rocked FMJ early about a year an a half ago. He couldn’t find Mora but fought to a draw, and he ran from Pacquiao for 12 rounds. Impressive, far from it, but I don’t see him as desimated. I’m just saying he can still fight, if he sounds like Holyfield or Frazier, then yes he should hang em up.
I just don’t see it as a slaughter. loss yes, decision maybe, quick stoppage more than likely.
By the time you sound like Frazier the damage has been done a long time ago. So I guess if you think it’s ok for fighters to get their brain traumatized until their speech is VERY slurred then sure this fight is terrific.
I'm just saying...
I don’t see him as dead in the water… And I’m not 100% sold on Canelo putting the nail in Mosely’s coffin.
If Canelo does beat the stuffing out of Mosely, I’ll stand corrected. But I just don’t see it being a merciless beating. I didn’t say it would be close. But we don’t know what Shane looks like to a lesser competition. Canelo is nowhere near Floyd or Manny’s skill level. We saw how FMJ took apart Marquez and 2 years later gave a great fight to Manny. Shane looked bad fighting the game’s best.
And if you create a petition to stop Mosely from fighting anymore based on his health, then I will sign it.
You’re completely ignoring his dreadful performance against Sergio Mora, who went on to lose a fight to Brian Vera the next time out. It came between the Floyd and Manny fights.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 21, 2011 6:24 AM EST up reply actions
1998 video interview pre Jessie James Leija:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvaF4vOB7gg
20010 post pac fight interview, scroll down and press play video: http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Benz/Benz0508e11.htm
It’s not that he’s now incomprehensible, but the deterioration is real. Note the higher pitch, quiet voice. Classic signs of trouble down the road.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
I don’t hear a huge difference in speech pattern. One interview was done is in a relaxed setting and the other is right after getting beaten up by Pac…..so it’s hard to make a direct comparison.
I wish he would retire, but if he passes the medical tests he will fight on.
It’s not huge difference, just a significant one, especially the kind of nasally higher quality. These were the only ones i could find on Google today from the past. I’ve heard others where the difference was more stark. You get different results from Google at different times, i’ll try again tomorrow.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
the way i also see it,
it will gonna be an another murder of mosley’s boxing career..
"Effort without Efficiency is nonsense.." -rk mag
does it get any easier after you experience it a few times?
No.
There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939
by BoxAnne on Dec 20, 2011 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
From what I hear, Mosley can still spar and bang in the gym, but under the lights and pressure, that store of energy and adrenaline no longer exists. He needs to stop competitive fighting, but hell, stay a gym rat, it’s good for the health and keeps you sharp…
"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."
Im going to bed before I see your anger & rage :)
by Sweet science on Dec 20, 2011 7:27 PM EST up reply actions
hey, if mosley still has something left, and he’s willing to put that something to use, he’s got a shot. just not sure if that’s the case.
in a related note, the caption for the above picture should have brother nassim muttering under his breath ’ain’t no way he’s gonna get wet if he ain’t even willin to swim…’
The majority of fans will be more impressed by a win over Mosley, and it will be a bigger promotional feather in his cap
Unfortunately, only us hardcore, hyper-informed fans really see how far gone Mosley is—or know who Kirkland is.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
Surely the non-hardcord boxing fans that saw the Mayweather and Pacquiao fights would have a fair idea of how for gone Mosley is.
Mosley couldn’t beat Sergio Mora at 154, I wouldn’t even pick him to beat Cintron at present. It is frankly beyond being a bad matchup. There have been much worse.
Nobody will read this and care and why should they?
by Eoin_not_ian on Dec 20, 2011 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
much worse matchups I mean.
Nobody will read this and care and why should they?
by Eoin_not_ian on Dec 20, 2011 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
Shame on Golden Boy for this. They’re just as bad as the rest of them. Can’t wait for Oscar to lie through his teeth and tell us how Mosley’s still dangerous and Canelo is a hungry, young lion.
I cannot wait for Oscar’s tweets if this happens. The unintentional comedy is off the charts. What happened to Oscar asking the fans who they want Canelo to fight next?
by Kory Kitchen on Dec 20, 2011 8:01 PM EST up reply actions
He was gun shy against the dangerous Sergio Mora.
by Verklemptomaniac on Dec 20, 2011 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
I really hope it's not Mosley...
it just hurts me to see him the way he is now; the only good that could come from it is maybe, just maybe, Shane pulls one out of the hat ala Morales, but I don’t see it happening. If not, the best case scenario is Shane realizing it’s finally time to hang ’em up…
Maybe I'm in the minority here
But even at this faded stage, I still think Mosley is a bigger threat to Canelo than Kirkland. If Kikland can get him out of there in the first, fine, but he’s too straightforward and easy to hit, and honestly Mosley still is quicker and has better one punch power. I think he walks over either of them, but I’d give Mosley a slightly better chance of winning.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Dec 21, 2011 9:27 AM EST via mobile reply actions
That said
Kirkland would be a much better fight.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Dec 21, 2011 9:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’d give them the same very small chance. I just — yeah, you just said it. It’s just that Kirkland is a better fight.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 21, 2011 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
Anyway, for those who look forward to the Canelo-Mosley sham, really: Don’t complain about it after when Mosley can’t do a damn thing and gets embarrassed. We had enough people going “what a mismatch that was you guys!” after I was “too harsh” on the Canelo-Cintron bullshit last month.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
On paper it is a terrible fight
But Boxing, as has been said on a previous thread, is weird. Manny is a phenom. And while he was no wear near his best against Shane (And more so against JMM) he still would always have far too much. But Canelo is no Manny. No where near to his level. And as easy as Manny was to hit in his fight with JMM, Canelo is as open as they come at the “top level”.
Im not trying to say Mosely will KO him in the first. But I don’t think he will have zero chance either. Not many gave Mosely a shot against Margo. Mosely has faded since then, and then some. But the Margo of that night would walk through Canelo, handwraps scandal or not.
by Sweet science on Dec 21, 2011 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
it’s been three straight fights of him plodding around the ring, with no stamina, huffing and puffing and looking bewildered. So he beat the crap out of the guy who magically didn’t have a punch. That was also three years ago.
I really cannot believe people can go from watching Shane Mosley completely stink out the ring for his last 34 rounds (round three of Mayweather and forward) and act like it’s interesting to see him, at 40 years old, fight Canelo Alvarez. If you want to know why boxing matchmaking never gets any better, start here. Maybe after Mosley Canelo can fight Jose Luis Castillo. “I don’t know you guys, Castillo punches to the body pretty well…”
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Dec 21, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
But dollars to donuts
Canelo-Mosley is next, if GBP thinks Mosley has ANY name power left. This is potentially the last chance to feed him a faded, older star who can boost his name recognition up to PPV headliner levels. Kirkland will probably still be around 6 – 9 months from now, Mosley probably won’t be.
And I did call this one quite a while ago. I don’t love it, but they could be doing worse I guess.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
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