Saul Alvarez: WBC Light Middleweight Champion Returns Saturday Night
By Geno McGahee
Boxing is constantly moving. It’s out with the old and in with the new, and the 20 year old WBC Light Middleweight Champion, Saul Alvarez, 36-0-1, 26 KO’s, is one of the most exciting fighters on the scene, and HBO knows this.
On May 1st, 2010, Alvarez took on the very tough Jose Miguel Cotto, and walked through some fire to stop him in the ninth round. It was on the Floyd Mayweather, JR – Shane Mosley PPV undercard and brought a lot of attention to the rising Mexican star.
HBO dusted off former champion Carlos Baldomir and pitted him against Alvarez on the Sugar Shane Mosley – Sergio Mora PPV undercard, and it was a highlight reel knockout win for Alvarez. In the sixth round, a left hook planted Baldomir face first on the canvas and out of the fight. It was a big name on his record, but a spent force. It still turned a great deal of heads.
In his last two fights, Alvarez went the distance with two ring veterans in Lovemore N’Dou (UD-12) and Matthew Hatton (UD-12). He faces another veteran on Saturday on HBO in Ryan Rhodes, 45-4, 31 KO’s.
Rhodes is a southpaw from the UK, and has won his last ten fights against competition that you would not recognize outside of the hometowns of the boxers. The early career of Rhodes was a series of wins against no hopers/career losers, with occasional defeats to legitimate contenders. Rhodes is facing a legitimate top young fighter Saturday night and despite his impressive record, he is in for an incredibly tough fight to even make it out of the early rounds. This fight is another showcase for young Alvarez.
On the undercard is the gutsy underdog, Jason Litzau, 28-2, 21 KO’s, trying to pull a rabbit out of his hat against the undefeated Adrien Broner, 20-0, 16 KO’s. Litzau defeated Rocky Juarez and followed that up with a major upset win over Celestino Caballero, leading to this opportunity. Broner looked horrible in his close decision win Daniel Ponce De Leon, and this may be good or bad for Litzau. It could be good if Broner is just overrated and he can exploit it and pick up another unexpected win or it could be bad, if Broner is looking to prove something and is a legitimate top fighter that had an off night. This should be interesting.