By DA: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (44-1-1 31 KO’s) will be facing slugger James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-1-0 28 KO’s) on May 2nd in a HBO broadcast which will be non-PPV. The bout is subject to be rescheduled if the Floyd Mayweather Jr – Manny Pacquiao fight does get made.
Then the fight will be moved to a later date “out of respect for the fans” says Golden boy President Oscar De la Hoya. But in reality HBO won’t have two events on the same night because for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight on HBO will be doing a joint PPV broadcast along with Showtime.
So how will HBO have two events on the same night? They won’t. Canelo was obviously told if Mayweather indeed does fight Pacquiao, he’ll have to step aside regardless.
Nonetheless the Canelo vs. Kirkland fight is an excellent matchup between the boxer-puncher and the all-out slugger. Kirkland has had his ups and downs in his career. For the past few years Kirkland has been very inactive. His last fight was December of 2013 against Glen Tapia whom he stopped in a slugfest. Then he took another year long layoff but it’s not the first time.
Kirkland was supposed to fight Gabriel Rosado in November of last year, but instead he pulled out of the fight citing his displeasure with his purse which was going to be a career high payday for him of $100,000-300,000 dollars.
Kirkland was also turned down a fight against Gennady Golovkin for April of 2014, but Golovkin’s father died anyways so the fight wouldn’t have happened regardless. But according to Badlefthook.com Kirkland’s career should be re-firing because Oscar De la Hoya made a deal with SMS promoter 50 cent to co-promote James Kirkland in a multiyear contract.
Canelo on the other hand is coming off a win against slick southpaw Erislandy Lara in a very difficult fight last year in July. Canelo was supposed to fight Miguel Cotto on May 2nd of this year but Cotto’s team continued to stall negotiations and Canelo moved on. So now Canelo and Kirkland are set to collide which should be an action packed fight.
This fight was supposed to happen in September of 2012, but Kirkland pulled out of the fight citing an injury to his shoulder then later announced he wanted more than 1 million dollars. Kirkland’s team wanted $2 million instead, which Richard Schaefer (former CEO of Golden boy) was displeased with James Kirkland and his management’s request.
Now the fight is on and I don’t know about you guys but Canelo would obviously be the favorite and Kirkland’s style is made to order for Canelo, but then again it could a kryptonite as well. Kirkland is a non-stop pressure fighter but has shown he can get out-boxed as he did with Carlos Molina.
Molina was well on his way to winning a lopsided unanimous which all 3 judges had Molina way ahead in their fight in March of 2012. ESPN also had Molina ahead 98-92 before Molina was disqualified in the 10th. Kirkland had knocked Molina down and as Molina got up his corner stepped in the ring and the referee disqualified Molina as a result.
Kirkland showed he can be out-boxed and but he’d definitely have to keep the pressure on Canelo as he did with Glen Tapia in his last fight in December of 2013. Kirkland is an explosive guy and has heart so he’d definitely need to use that and be in shape. Hopefully he hooks up with trainer Anne Wolf to whip him in shape.
Canelo on the other hand will have to really work his stamina this training camp because it’s not wise to get winded with a guy like Kirkland. Canelo didn’t show any signs of being gassed in the Lara fight so maybe it’s an improving department for him. Regardless he’ll need to use his superior boxing skills and defense against Kirkland and work the body.
Kirkland will need to be himself and be on Canelo’s backside the whole time to wear him down. But my prediction? If Anne Wolf isn’t in Kirkland’s corner, I see Canelo stopping him before 10. If Wolf is with Kirkland, I see Canelo winning a unanimous decision with a knockdown but there’s a chance Kirkland can rock and drop Canelo as well. Who knows? We’ll just have to see. Stay tuned.
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