Oscar De La Hoya: Mayweather wants Canelo, he'll take the fight

Oscar De La Hoya is confident that Golden Boy Promotions can secure a big fight between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez, saying that he believes both competitors want the fight.

From Hoy Los Angeles:

"(Alvarez) is ready, is motivated, he wants that fight. No doubt, he wants to fight Mayweather. Is a fighter who is learning is growing, he's becoming more intelligent, stronger, is very fast. I know that Mayweather wants the fight, he'll take the fight. Something tells me he wants to fight him."

Oscar said this five days ago, but nothing big has changed here. Despite reports that the Mayweather camp was demanding 147 pounds, Richard Schaefer has said that's not the case, and that the fight is being discussed and worked on as we speak.

This is a dangerous thing to dangle in front of boxing fans, though, and I don't say that to doubt Schaefer's sincerity in wanting to make this fight. If it doesn't happen, what we're likely to see is several reasons "leaked" or "rumored" -- Mayweather and the weight, Canelo and the money, whatever else. And then fans are going to come to their own conclusions simply because we're unlikely to get a concrete, single reason as to why the fight that the people are demanding can't happen, when we're told both guys want it to happen on September 14.

In other words, while this is in no way a Mayweather-Pacquiao situation yet (this fight can happen, that one never realistically could have), there is at least a mild similarity in that it's The Fight right now. And if it doesn't happen, that hurts the sport's image again.