Canelo Wants Mayweather After Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya Denies Comeback Rumors

Canelo Alvarez says he wants Floyd Mayweather for his next fight after he defeats Shane Mosley tomorrow night on HBO pay-per-view in the Mayweather vs Cotto co-feature, but another rumor has floated around concerning Canelo's boss, Oscar De La Hoya, who says it's just a rumor that he himself wants to fight the Canelo vs Mosley winner.

"The rumors that have been circulating, I’ve been hearing, it’s just rumors, that I’ll be fighting the winner of this fight. That’s not true. These guys are too difficult for me. This guy here on my left [Mosley] beat me twice already and this guy [Alvarez], I don’t even want to think of facing him."

There have been rumors about De La Hoya wanting to headline the Golden Boy show at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 20, but it looks like that show will actually be led by new WBA welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi, a Brooklyn native.

[ Related: Canelo vs Mosley Fight Preview ]

Oscar, who is now 39 years old, has frankly been looking in better physical condition lately, as he seems to have lost a few pounds. Maybe he's working out more. Maybe he really is plotting a return to the ring. Never say never -- it's boxing.

But as much as it might seem beneficial for him to return and lose to Canelo, well, what if he were to win? That wouldn't really help his business in the long-term, and I have to think Richard Schaefer would be smart enough to vote that idea into the ground, unless they planned to basically throw a fight in Canelo's favor, and as much as I might bash Oscar for some of the asinine things he says, he's a proud fighter, and was a great fighter, and I can't imagine him coming back to roll over for some kid. I mean, that's absurd, but that's the way a lot of people think, so let's just get it out of the way quickly.

De La Hoya retired after his 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao, with a career record of 39-6 (30 KO) and world titles at 130, 135, 140, 147, 154, and 160 pounds.

As for Alvarez, he's saying again that he wants Mayweather and feels he'll be ready in September. If Floyd gets his jail sentence cut early (which is probable, not just likely), and he's ready to go in September (which is possible), then that fight could happen. Should Floyd and Canelo both win tomorrow night, the time could be right to make that fight a reality, and September 15 would be the perfect date. If that doesn't come together, Floyd could possibly make his return by the end of 2012 with a fight against Amir Khan, should Khan beat Lamont Peterson on May 19 in their rematch.

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