By Dan Ambrose: #3 ranked WBA contender Saul Alvarez (35-0-1, 26 KO’s) could be facing World Boxing Association welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (31-0, 20 KO’s) in March 2011, according to fightnews.com. Senchenko, 33, is considered by many fans to be the weakest of the four welterweight champions and a paper champion. With all the hype that Alvarez has received since turning pro in 2005, you’d think that he would step up to the plate and take on a better fighter than Senchenko, someone like WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto.
That would be a much more interesting fight. However, Alvarez, who looks badly flawed in terms of defensive ability and foot work, would likely lose to Berto. As such, Alvarez could be positioned to fight the weaker champion in Senchenko. Alvarez has beaten 39-year-old welterweights Carlos Baldomir and Lovemore N’dou in back to back fights. Despite beating both N’dou and Baldomir, Alvarez looked far from impressive.
Indeed, he looked fatally flawed on defense and this could be a problem unless his promoters continue to put him in with soft punching fighters and old guys. Alvarez needs a lot of work over a long period of time before he can compete with the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr, Berto. and Manny Pacquiao. He just doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as good as them. It may take years, but then again may never happen.
Instead of going after the WBA paper titles, Alvarez should try and line up a fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for a bout between hyped stars. It would be interesting to see who wins this one. I see them both as being hyped but very beatable fighters.
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