By Gerardo Granados: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez / age 20 – 5´9” height, 71” reach / T36-W35(26)-L0-D1, was recently awarded by the World Boxing Council as the 2010 “Hope and Revelation of the Year.” By the way the kid undoubtedly had more than enough merits to be awarded: W UD12 against IBO welterweight champion Lovemore N´dou (defended his WBC silver light middleweight title), Brian Camechis KO3 (defended his NABF welterweight title), Jose Miguel Cotto TKO9, Luciano Leonel Cuello TKO6 (won the WBC silver light middleweight title) and former champion Carlos Baldomir KO6 (defended his WBC silver light middleweight title). But does he has enough time left to conquer a welterweight title?
Alvarez recently turned twenty years old, and it seems that his body is still growing and perhaps will grow bigger and wont be able to make the welterweight limit anymore. In the past he used to have problems with his weight as himself declared. I believe he will still be able to make the welterweight division but it might make him feel weak in his fights, so he must hurry to conquer a welterweight title unless he plans to campaign permanently at super welterweight.
Youngster Alvarez is perhaps the hotest prospect of all. The kid has power and skills to become a boxing star and most of all he has a big charisma. Alvarez and his manager have declared that it is their goal to obtain a welterweight championship before moving up in weight.
Problem “A” is that his fight against WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko might not be arranged soon as it has been reported, so if he can not get to fight for the WBA belt, then against who can he challenge for a title shot? Alvarez is ranked 4 at welterweight by the WBA so he is not the mandatory challenger for the title, that leaves few chances to force Vyacheslav to fight him.
Problem “B”, is up to Alvarez promoters to get him a welterweigt title shot this year, it might not be very hard for them, but how can they convince a reigning champion to give Alvarez a chance to dispute an alphabet belt? The obvious answer is money, but who can they convince if they were not able to convince WBA Vyacheslav Senchenko? WBO Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is out of limits for Alvarez (ranked 3 at welterweight) for now, WBC Andre Berto might not be interested to engage against a risky rival that wont give him a big profit (Alvarez ranked 1 at junior middleweight), IBF Jan Zaveck is a veteran that might be interested if the contract satisfies his pretentions (Alvarez is not ranked), IBO welterweight title is vacant and Alvarez recently defeated UD12 Lovemore N´dou (former champion), but if his promoters would wanted to give him the chance to obtain that title they would have done it all ready.
Problem “C” can he still comfortably make 147 pounds? in 2010 Alvarez fought four times above the welterweight limit: 150 vs Jose Miguel Cotto, 150 ¼ vs Leonel Cuello, 150 ½ vs Carlos Baldomir and 149 ½ vs Lovemore N´dou.
If he is able to conquer a welterweight title before moving to junior middleweight it would look great in Alvarez record and it would also priced him higher. The welterweight division is full of talent and good fights but maybe Saul will struggle to keep fighting in this division, so he better be smart to get a title shot soon.
This year will be a defining year in Alvarez boxing career, he is young and can wait a couple of years more before challenging the big guns but at the same time he can not afford to wait that much before he leaves the welterweight division, so it is up to him, his manager and promoters to decide what is best for him.
In my personal oppinion I am optimistic that Alvarez has the skills and power to defeat champions Senchenko or Zaveck this year, he could obtain the IBO welterweight title too but I doubt his promoters are interested in that belt. Time is running out for Alvarez at the welterweight division but he better not be rushed to fight against Berto and less against Pacquiao this year.
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