Kirkland wants a rematch against Canelo

By Boxing News - 05/10/2015 - Comments

Image: Kirkland wants a rematch against Canelo(Photo Credit:Ed Mulholland/Golden Boy/Golden Boy via Getty Images) By Dan Ambrose: James Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) says he’d like another shot against Mexican star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) in the future if Canelo is willing to give him another fight. Kirkland says he had the 24-year-old Canelo hurt a couple of times in the fight, but he was unable to finish him off. Instead of finishing Canelo off, he was the one who was knocked out in the 3rd round when he walked into a right hand from the red-haired Canelo.

A rematch between these two sluggers would be something that boxing fans would like to see, but for the fight to really interest fight fans it would have to take place down the road a stretch after Kirkland redeems himself with a number of good wins under his belt. It means that Kirkland will need to prove himself worthy of a rematch for him to get a second shot.

Kirkland could quickly work his way into a rematch by Canelo if he were to beat a handful of top fighters in a short period of time. It would be tough for Kirkland to do because he would need to prove that he can stay busy with his career instead of taking long breaks between fights.

J“I didn’t know I was knocked out. I had him trapped and hurt in the corner in the first round but he escaped, I had him hurt in the second also,” Kirkland said. “He’s a great champion, I’m proud that I was able to compete in such a terrific event, and I hope to fight him again someday. I’m a warrior, I’ll be back.”

Kirkland did seem to hurt Canelo in the 2nd round with a long left hand to the head. That was a good punch and perhaps the best in the entire fight. Canelo landed at least six hard shots to the head of Kirkland that hurt him each time. But Kirkland definitely had Canelo hurt from a left hand in the 2nd. His problem was that he wasn’t able to finish Canelo off after he got him hurt. In the 1st round, Kirkland backed Canelo up against the ropes and landed some bruising shots to the head. However, Canelo turned things around in the middle of the round in knocking Kirkland down, and then hurting him badly before the end of the round.

“He came out with a little bit of a different style than I was expecting, but I was able to adjust and get the knockout,” Canelo said. “I knew he was strong fighter but he surprised me with his aggressiveness in the first and second round. I fight for the fans, and I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime.”

It is unclear why Canelo was surprised by Kirkland’s fighting style because he was fighting like he always does. Canelo must not have studied Kirkland’s fighting style on tape because he always fights in the same manner. Kirkland has never not jumped on his opponent in the 1st round of his fights. Why Canelo didn’t know this sounds like either his trainer’s fault or Canelo not being astute enough to realize the tendencies of one of his opponents.



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