Canelo presented WBC title in Mexico City

By Boxing News - 01/11/2016 - Comments

canelo7(Photo Credit: Alma Montiel – World Boxing Council & Eztel Espinoza – Golden Boy Promotions) By Dan Ambrose: Earlier today, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez received his WBC Diamond middleweight title by World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman in Mexico City, Mexico. Canelo received the WBC middleweight title that he recently won in beating Miguel Cotto in a catch-weight fight at 155lbs last November.

The fact that Canelo fought at a catch-weight for the title rather than at the full weight of 160lbs is a bit of a disappointment to many fans, as it made it a different than it would have if the bout had taken place at the full weight for the division. However, Canelo likely would have won the fight even if the weight limit were 160, because he was just so much heavier looking after he rehydrated.

Sulaiman was very complimentary of Canelo, calling him the biggest thing in boxing.

“Saul Canelo Alvarez conquered the WBC Middleweight Championship and has become the greatest attraction in Boxing through his dedication to the sport,” said Sulaiman.

We are going to find out soon whether Canelo can remain the biggest attraction in boxing for long, because for him stay at that level, he is going to need to prove that he can beat the best fighters in the divisions he’s fighting in. Canelo will need to prove that he can beat IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

If Canelo cannot beat him or if he chooses to bypass that fight, then he’ll be the biggest attraction without being the best fighter. Right now, you can make an argument that Canelo is famous for being famous rather than for someone who has risen to the occasion to win all of his fights. Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat Canelo in 2013. Canelo also arguably lost to Erislandy Lara in 2014, but was given a controversial 12 round decision.

“I am looking forward to my upcoming fight in May,” Canelo said.

Canelo will be fighting on Cinco de Mayo on May 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be his first official defense of his WBC middleweight title, and fans are interested in finding out who the lucky opponent will be. Fans also want to know at what weight Canelo will be fighting. Will it continue to be at 155lbs, which has turned out to be his favorite catch-weight, or will it be at the full weight for the middleweight division.

If Canelo does fight at 160ls, it will no doubt make Golovkin happy, because he is not interested in melting down to 155lbs to fight for the WBC world title. Golovkin wants the fight to take place at the full weight for the middleweight division without having to give Canelo a weight handicap so that he can get an edge.

“Canelo is now one of the most recognizable faces of boxing, and we are grateful to the WBC for their support,” De La Hoya said.

Canelo will pick up more fans if he stopped fighting at catch-weights like he’s been doing since 2013, and if he were to beat Golovkin later this year rather than ducking the fight by dragging his feet during the negotiations.

What is really going to be interesting is if Canelo is given permission to use the 155lb catch-weight for ALL of his fights as the WBC middleweight champion. The WBC has the power to change their rules if they all vote on it. Right now, the WBC champions can only use a catch-weight if their opponents agree to it or if it’s a voluntary defense. They can’t force their mandatory challengers to use a catch-weight. If the WBC lets Canelo use the catch-weights on all of his opponents, it’s going be tough on his middleweight opponents to have to drain down to almost junior middleweight every time they face Canelo for the WBC title.



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