Angulo vs Kirkland Being Explored for November 5 in Cancun

Rumors out of Mexico say that Golden Boy is working on putting together a November 5 card in Cancun, headlined by Alfredo Angulo in his second fight under the Golden Boy banner. Angulo (20-1, 17 KO) still can't fight in the United States, and an offer to Vanes Martirosyan was rejected after a couple months of those two being linked in fight rumors.

Now, Golden Boy is reportedly considering a fight between Angulo and James Kirkland (29-1, 26 KO). Kirkland, once again training with Ann Wolfe, has been rehabbing since his shocking April 9 loss to Nobuhiro Ishida, and both he and Wolfe indicated prior to Kirkland's July 23 win over Michigan club fighter Alexis Hloros that they have tired of easy fights and were looking to do something big.

Just three years ago or so, Angulo vs Kirkland was considered by many to be a huge fight in the making, a couple of guys with action star reputations who were quickly building reputations and names on HBO. But both have suffered big setbacks in and out of the ring. Kirkland went to prison for a second time on a gun possession charge, and lost to Ishida early in his comeback. Though he's won twice, his reputation is still suffering just a bit from that. Angulo lost to Kermit Cintron on HBO in 2009, and though he's been back in the win column since then, he also lost a year of his career to visa issues that kept him from entering the United States, as well as promotional issues that eventually saw Gary Shaw give him up to Golden Boy.

It would still be an attractive fight for boxing fans, even if not the money-maker it seemed like it could have been in 2011, when thinking about it back in 2008. It would be a can't-miss slugfest between a couple of guys who don't know how to take steps back.

This is certainly no guarantee that this fight will happen, as this is in very preliminary talk stages at best right now. Golden Boy is also looking to put Erislandy Lara on that card, but he's reportedly been turned down by Angulo, Kirkland, Austin Trout, and Sergiy Dzinziruk. Looks like whomping Paul Williams, "loss" or not, has made Lara a fighter to be avoided.

If the card does come together, HBO would be an ideal fit. They have no fight that weekend, and would surely like to have one to lead in to the Pacquiao vs Marquez show on November 12. Showtime will have Lucian Bute vs Glen Johnson that night.