Willie Monroe Jr: I’m still in the Canelo sweepstakes

By Boxing News - 01/19/2016 - Comments

golovkinBy Dan Ambrose: Former world title challenger Willie Monroe Jr. (19-2, 6 KOs) says he’s still in the running for a big fight against WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) for May 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Canelo and his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions apparently haven’t yet decided on an opponent. Monroe Jr., 29, is one of several names that is being considered for Canelo’s next fight. The other names are Gabriel Rosado, Liam Smith and Miguel Cotto.

A rematch between Cotto and Canelo would obviously make good money if it took place, but it might be too soon to stage another fight between them. If Golden Boy wants to maximize the amount of money that can be made in a Canelo-Cotto rematch, then they need to let Cotto rebuild a little before he faces the much bigger Canelo in a rematch.

Monroe Jr. was knocked out in the 6th round in by IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin last May at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Monroe Jr. fought reasonably well during portions of the fight, but fell apart in the sixth round when Golovkin suddenly started throwing huge bombs. Monroe Jr. hit the deck, and then got up and quit on his feet. In fairness to Monroe, he would have been finished off quickly by Golovkin if the fight had continued on. Monroe Jr. was hurt and badly outgunned by a motivated Golovkin.

Canelo doesn’t attack in the same way that Golovkin does, and he’s not nearly as good at pressuring his opponents. Monroe Jr. might be able to use his mobility to Canelo fits in the same way that he was able to use his mobility to give Brian Vera problems. Canelo is slow on his feet, and not nearly as good at cutting off the ring like Golovkin can do.
“If I get this fight with Canelo, I will be so happy. I don’t know about him but I’m ready. 157 pounds [and] I’m down,” Monroe Jr. said on his Twitter.

It might take less than 157lbs for Monroe to get a fight against Canelo. It’ll likely require Monroe Jr. to melt down to 155lbs to get a fight against Canelo for a catch-weight clash on HBO pay-per-view. Canelo has been fighting all of his fights at 155 lately, and I don’t think he’s going to give Monroe Jr. a break just because he says he can fight at 157.

Monroe Jr. is a better option for Canelo than Gabriel Rosado in my view, because Monroe is at least a top 15 rated contender. Rosado has only won one fight in the past four years, and he’s not someone that would be a good option for Canelo to be fighting on HBO PPV. Golden Boy doesn’t seem interested in putting Canelo in with someone that could potentially beat him like Jermall Charlo or Demetrius Andrade. That’s why Monroe would be perfect for Canelo. He doesn’t have the punching power or the size to blast him out the way that Charlo and Andrade would, and it would give the fans a good comparison in seeing how Canelo deals with a fighter that Golovkin stopped last year.



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