By Cameron Gillon: Golden Boy promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya has said if the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto mega fight doesn’t happen in May 2015, he hopes he can match the red haired Mexican against fellow Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at a catch weight of 159, according to The Record.
He went on to say the fight would sell big with the Mexican audience and would be a big pay per view fight with the correct backing. Oscar did say the fight between Alvarez and Cotto will likely happen, but he wants to make sure he has a backup fight if it falls through.
Canelo also apparently ordered Oscar to book the Cinco de Mayo date for his first fight in 2015, and it looks like Canelo will be challenging Floyd Mayweather Jr for his May date is going ahead. This is interesting as if Canelo faces Cotto on that date then Floyd is in some big trouble, there is no fight out there that could top a Canelo/Cotto fight other than if Mayweather decided to fight Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather has apparently put British fighter Amir Khan as his number one target for his May opponent, but if Canelo fought Cotto and Mayweather faced Khan on the same date, you know Canelo and Cotto will draw bigger guys as Khan just isn’t a big enough name to beat that fight, the only one is Pacquiao.
As far as the Canelo facing Chavez Jr, I really cannot see this happening. Chavez not matter how much he thinks he can, cannot make the 160 limit at middleweight, if De La Hoya and Canelo think they can drain Chavez down to 159 then they need to think again, for this fight to happen.
Canelo would have to move up to 160 or fight at a catch weight between 160 and 165. Canelo always weighs in at around 170-175 on fight night now a days anyway. You’re talking light heavyweight limit and he’s fighting at junior middleweight level at that weight. I’m not sure how much longer Canelo will be allowed to fight at catch weights.
At some point soon he’s going to have to move up. He’s young and is only getting bigger and fighting at junior middleweight isn’t going to be the best idea for Canelo. He says he wants to stay there for the rest of his career but I doubt it very much. I’m not sure why Canelo doesn’t want to move up to 160 as that would be a very easy division to make weight wise for Canelo.
If it’s down to getting big fights then that doesn’t make much sense either. At 160, you have Miguel Cotto, Gennady Golovkin, Peter Quillin, Sam Soliman, and Demetrius Andrade who has recently moved up, and I’m sure Chavez would fight Canelo at a catch weight above 160.
If the idea of draining Chavez down to 159 is to make it an easier fight then it’s a bad look for Canelo. Chavez is much bigger than Canelo. If Canelo faced Chavez at a limit Chavez doesn’t struggle with and picks up a victory Canelo will come out looking strong.
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