Redemption and Adversity: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez M.DeTyrone

Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or great benefit.” After the abysmal performance by the now 23 year old Saul “Canelo” Alvarez against Floyd Mayweather jr. Canelo sought redemption by fighting “El Perro” Angulo due to Angulo’s shameful non-performance Canelo won by a ten round TKO. That was not even the case but the fact that Canelo didn’t even make 154 lbs. and ended up paying Angulo a substantial  amount of money for an extra pound, and the fight was at the weight limit of 155 lbs. Making Canelo a Middleweight.

Redemption is an act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake; deliverance from sin; salvation. I can’t fault Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for being accused by many fans for being a creation, but he is a product of the boxing industry. An industry that is looking for the next Mexican boxing star in the Jr. Middleweight division that can become cross over to the USA and world mainstream sports market just like Oscar De La Hoya once did. 

 If Canelo was seeking some kind redemption in the eyes of the boxing fans the opposite effect occurred that resulted in the fans at the Angulo fight throwing objects at him and his team, then you had a network announcer and boxing great suspecting Angulo was bought and paid for, and many fans validating their common suspicion that Canelo is a network creation and investment.

Canelo was built up by winning the vacant WBC Light Middleweight title against an unranked 148 lbs. Matthew Hatton.  The fans ate it all. Then he had five successful defenses vs. Ryan Rhodes, Alfonso Gomez, Kermit Cintron, Shane Mosley, and Josesito Lopez. As a result, of the lesser opposition the fan base demanded and pressured the network and promoters that he fights a legit Jr. Middleweight. So, he faced Austin Trout coming off a victory over Miguel Cotto.  In 2013 Canelo faced Austin Trout at the Alamodome, in San Antonio for the WBC & WBA Light Middleweight title. Resulting in a victory for Canelo and quickly he was thrown in against Floyd Mayweather jr. at a catch weight. 

Now, we have Canelo still looking for redemption by fighting at a 155 lbs. catch weight the crafty and elusive 31 year old Cuban southpaw Erislandy Lara 19-1-2 (12KO) and the current WBA World Light Middleweight Champion. The majority of Canelo fans strongly believe just because Lara was dropped by Angulo two times in their fight that Canelo will do the same, and will KO Lara. Many of these fans forget that Lara won the Angulo fight by TKO and then face Trout resulting in the Cuban giving yet another boxing lesson. They dismiss that fact that Lara’s amateur pedigree was among the best for what was then his weight class of welterweight, and they also disrespect the fact that he’s a product of the Cuban boxing school. They fail to recognize that Angulo was or is a pressure boxer with dangerous punching power, on the other hand, Canelo lacks that one punch KO power, he lacks stamina after the six rounds, and he’s not a pressure boxer. He fancies himself a boxer-puncher and stylist very uncommon for a Mexican boxer at the 154-160 division. His team seems to embrace the belief that Canelo is a boxer-puncher / boxing stylist.

Lara with a 75” reach, foot work, and power has the abilities and tools to box circle around a flat footed Canelo, and break down his stamina for a late round TKO stoppage. I don’t see many exchanges in this fight or a Lara standing still become a target for Canelo’s repetitive punch combinations. I can see Canelo playing the boxer-puncher and trying to counter and Lara just boxing. Wouldn’t be surprised that not many sparks and punches will be thrown and you’ll have a Canelo winning a controversial decision on what the fans will call a bore fest. A boxer like Canelo is an investment to defeat him the opponent must KO him or hurt him multiple times, in my opinion, if they desire to win or obtain a decision from the judges.

The Search for Boxing Greatness and Immortality M. De Tyrone

On June 6^th, 2014 at Madison Square Garden, NYC it doesn’t get any better two modern day Latino gladiators will meet in the ring in a pro-Cotto environment.  One proud Argentine Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez 51-2-2 (28KO) defends his WBC Middleweight Title vs. Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto 38-4 (31KO) one is trying to achieve greatness and the other is fighting father time, the countless boxing injuries, and is trying to remain relevant in the sport of boxing. Ultimately this has the making of an epic showdown between two modern day gladiators at the historic Madison Square Garden.

William Shakespeare said, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them,” Only one boxer in this era has fought the best opponents, never accused of cherry picking, and has never been alleged to be involved with any performance enhancement drugs, or nutritionist with past involvements with any sort of performance enhancement drug. That boxer has been Miguel Cotto a modern day gladiator and a throwback to the boxers of the golden years. Miguel Cotto is in search of greatness by becoming the first Puerto Rican to win a world title in four weight divisions, in search of stamping his own legacy in this era next to Floyd Mayweather jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Will Miguel Cotto achieve that extra greatness on June 6th 2014 at Madison Square Garden by winning the WBC Middleweight title? Miguel Cotto has a difficult task against a stronger and more powerful opponent the Argentine Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez.

Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez at 5’10” with a reach of 73”  and record of 51-2-2 (28KO) has been in the sport of boxing for some time now and has been ranked among the top pound for pound boxers in the world by the boxing sports media. Martinez has been calling out Cotto, Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather jr. Avoided by various boxers at 154 lbs. and 160 lbs. outside the WBA middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin.  Martinez has defeated all the opponents put in front of him at middleweight; be that as it may, his last two victories have been pyrrhic resulting in various injuries and a controversial victory over Martin Murray in front of his Argentine country men in 2013. In 2012 Martinez fought Julio Cesar Chavez jr. who is basically just a crude club boxer that uses his weight advantage against his opponents, has a legendary surname due to his father and the support of the WBC. Martinez just schooled for 11 rounds a Chavez jr. until the 12^th round when Chavez jr. caught Martinez with a shot that dropped him and from that point it Martinez was on survival mode.

Miguel Cotto stands at 5’7” with a reach at 67” and a professional record of 38 victories 4 defeats and 31 KO. His last victory was against the ESPN Friday Night Fights regular Delvin Rodriguez with a 3^rd round TKO in a fight where many “Experts” believed it would be a tough fight for Cotto. However, Cotto won in a convincing fashion. Many missed the point that it wasn’t about the victory but in the fashion that Cotto won.  Cotto is at a height, reach, and a power disadvantage versus Martinez. It’s a hard fight for Cotto to win unless he fights an inside fight thus taking away Martinez athleticism which is a big part of his boxing.  It’s not known how well Martinez has recuperated from his injuries that being a broken hand versus Martin Murray and before that a knee surgery and a fractured left hand after the Chavez Jr. victory. Majority of Martinez’s opponents have been tall and slow.  I can’t recall Martinez fighting an inside fight or defending against a body attack.  A technical Cotto with intelligent methodical pressure to Martinez’s body will be something to look for, if Cotto exchanges vs. Martinez, then he will get KO’d. You have to give credit to Cotto in taking on this fight when others haven’t stepped up to the challenge. A victory by Cotto over Martinez puts him within the top 10 Puerto Rican Boxers of all time, and among one those immortals in boxing history.

 

I give the advantage to Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez if he is 100% physically and can use his athleticism. If Martinez is not 100% physically healthy for the fight then I give Miguel Cotto, a good chance to break down Martinez’s body with a very technical intelligent and methodical pressure for interesting late rounds where both have lacked stamina in their fights. At any rate, this fight looks to be one of the best of 2014. 

The Top Puerto Rican Boxing Prospects: April 2014

1.                  Jose “Sniper” Pedraza 16-0 (10 KO) [Super Featherweight]

2.                  Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez 17-0-1 (14 KO) [Jr. Middleweight]

3.                  Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle 18-1 (13 KO) – Bayamon [Featherweight]

4.                  Felix Verdejo 12-0 (8 KO) [Lightweight]           

5.                  Keith “Machine Gun” Tapia 10-0 (6KO) Santurce – [Cruiserweight]

6.                  Gamalier Rodriguez 23-2-3 (15 KO) – Bayamon [Featherweight]

7.                  Luis “El Artesano” Cruz 21-2 (16 KO) – Las Piedras [Lightweight]

8.                  Prichard “Digget” Colon 9-0 (9KO) – Orocovis [Jr. Middleweight]

9.                  McJoe Arroyo 14-0 (7 KO) - Fajardo [Super Flyweight]

10.              Carlos Ivan “Twin Dream” Velasquez 15-1 (11 KO)

11.              Thomas Dulorme 21-1 (14 KO) – Carolina /D. Republic [Jr. Welterweight]

12.              McWilliams Arroyo 14-1 (12 KO) – Fajardo

13.              Jesus M. Rojas 19-1-1 (14 KO) 

14.              Luis Rosa 16-0 (7 KO) – Connecticut, USA [Super Bantamweight]

15.              Emmanuel “Manny” Gonzalez 14-0 (7KO) – NYC [Super Featherweight]

16.              Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez 22-0 (16 KO) – Juncos [Featherweight]

17.              Reylando “El Maestro” Ojeda 13-0 (8 KO) – San Juan / Canovanas [Lightweight]

18.              Emmanuel Rodriguez 8-0 (5 KO) – Vega Baja [Super Flyweight]

19.              Frank “Notorious” Galarza 12-0-2 (7KO) – Brooklyn , NYC [Jr. Middleweight]

20.              Robert J. Acevedo 8-2 (5KO) – Bayamon/Miami, Fl. [ Super Middleweight]

21.              Edgardo “Sasso” Lopez 9-0-1 (4KO)

22.              Jonathan Oquendo  24-3 (16 KO) – Vega Alta

23.              Jorge “Destroyer”  Melendez 28-3-1 (26 KO) – Manati

24.              Jose “Wonder Boy” Lopez 13-0 (11 KO) – Carolina [ Super Bantamweight ]

25.              Michael Perez 19-1-2 (10 KO) – Newark , NJ [Jr. Welterweight]

26.              Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa 7-0 (4KO) PR/Brooklyn, NY-  [Light welterweight]

27.              Vicente Miranda 16-1 (9 KO) – Bayamon

28.              Israel Vazquez 9-0-2 (6 KO)

29.              Wilkins Santiago 9-0-1 (1KO) -  Ohio, USA

30.              Gabriel Bracero 23-1 (4 KO) – Brooklyn, NYC

31.              Frank Santo de Alba 10-1-2 (4KO) – Bayamon / Pennsylvania, USA

32.              Jose Martinez 10-0 (7 KO)

33.              Luis “La Roca” Hernandez 10-1 (6KO) – Rio Piedras

34.              Alberto Mercado 8-0 (2KO) – Las Piedras

35.              *Dusty Harrison-Hernandez 20-0 (11KO) – Washington D.C.

36.              Jose Martinez 10-0 (7 KO) - Las Marias [Bantamweight]

37.              Javier Flores 9-0 (8 KO) – Hartford, Connecticut, USA

38.              Rafael Vasquez 10-1 (8KO)

39.              Emmanuel Rivera 9-1 (5 KO)

40.              John Karl Sosa 9-0 (6 KO) – Caguas [Jr. Welterweight]

41.              Edgardo Laboy 7-0 (4 KO) [Featherweight]

42.              Miguel “No Fear” Cartagena 12-1 (5 KO)

43.              Eliezer Gonzalez 14-0 (9 KO) – Cupey Alto [Jr. Middleweight]

44.              Jonathan Vidal 17-2 (9 KO) – San Juan [Bantamweight]

45.              Antonio “Carita” Nieves 5-0 (2KO) – Ohio , USA

46.              Jose Aguirre 6-0 (4 KO) – Manati

47.              Janiel Rivera 10-1-2 (6KO)

48.              Edwin Soto 9-0-2 ( 4 KO)

49.              Kevin Nieves 6-0 (3KO)

50.              Starling Cordero 7-0 (4KO)  - Carolina [Bantamweight]

51.              Andy Mejias 14-0 (6KO)

52.              Angel Fret 16 -0 (13KO) – Vega Alta [Super Bantamweight]

53.              Alberto “El Explosivo” Machado 5-0 (3KO)

54.              Fransisco Almestica Garcia 6-0 (4 KO) – [Welterweight]

55.              Charlie Clemente 6-0 (4KO) – Carolina [Super Flyweight]

56.              Carlos Narvaez 6-0 (5 KO)

57.              Jonathan Perez 5-0 (3KO) – Moca [Jr. Welterweight]

58.              Fransisco “Pechuga” Vargas 2-0 (2KO)

59.              Braulio Santos 11-2 (10 KO) – Carolina [Featherweight]

60.              Jeffrey “Dinamita” Fontanez 15-0 (11 KO) – Caguas [Lightweight]

61.              Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez 13-1 (11 KO) - Caguas [Flyweight]

62.              Jorge Diaz 17-3 (10KO)

63.              Daniel Rosario 7-0 (6KO) - Caguas

64.              Angel “Tito” Acosta 6-0 (6KO)

65.              Osenohan Vasquez 6-1 (1 KO) – Jersey City , NJ

66.              Abner “Pin” Cotto 17-2 (7KO) [Lightweight]

67.              Yomar “The Magic” Alamo 4-0 (4KO) – Aguas Buenas

68.              Christopher “Pitifo” Diaz 3-0 (2KO)

69.              Kenny Galarza 16-2 (15KO) – Ponce / Juana Diaz [Jr. Welterweight]

70.              Noel Echevarria 11-2 (6 KO) – North Carolina, USA [Lightweight]

71.              Camilo Perez 9-2 (4 KO) – Carolina

72.              Miguel “El Loco” Robles 12-4 (5 KO) – San Juan

73.              Edwin Rodriguez 5-0 (4KO) [Super Flyweight]

74.              Emmanuel De Jesus 10-0 (6 KO) – Canovanas [ Jr. Middleweight]

75.              Antonio “Cacique” Ortiz 4-0 (3KO) - Humacao

76.              Miguel Marrero 7-0-2 (4KO)

77.              Kenneth Rivera 5-1 (4KO) [Featherweight]

78.              O’Nell Negron 9-1-2 (8KO)

79.              Jorge Maysonet jr. 12-1 (10KO) – Catano [Jr. Welterweight]

80.              Miguel Soto 11-2 (11 KO) – Arecibo

81.              Dennis Galarza 2-0 (1KO)

82.              Luis Saul “El Zurdo” Rosario 2-0 (2KO)

The 2014 Welterweight Division

In my opinion, the welterweight division has always been the premier division in professional boxing. It’s been lack luster for some years now due to the dominance of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the soap opera about the mega fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather jr. that lost its luster long ago.  Only a dream for the casual fans and the boxers’ respected fan base.  Currently the Welterweight division is on fire with very interesting match ups that can be made with no promotional problems.

v  Keith “One Time” Thurman: (25) 22-0 20 KO’s 5’ 7 ½” with a reach at 69”

v  Shawn “Showtime” Porter: (26) 24-0-1 (15KO) 5’7” with a reach at 69 ½”

v  Kell “The Special One” Brook:   (27) 32-0 (22KO) 5’9” with a reach at 69”

v  Devon Alexander: (27) 25-2 (14KO) 5’8” with a reach at 70”

v  Luis Collazo: 35-5 (18KO) 5’9” with a reach at 72”

v  Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero: (31) 31-2-1 (18KO) 5’8” with a reach at 70”

v  Amir “King Khan” Khan: (27) 28-3 (19KO) 5’8 ½” with a reach at 71”

v  Luis C. Abregu: (30) 36-1 (29KO) 5’10” with a reach at 72”

v  Diego G. Chaves: (28) 23-1 (19KO) 5’ 7 ½” with a reach at 661/2”

v  Danny “Swift” Garcia: (26) 28-0 (16 KO) 5’ 8 ½ ” with a reach at 68 ½”

The most dangerous welterweight at the moment, I strongly believe that it’s Keith “One Time” Thurman the 25 years old, standing at 5’ 7 ½” with a reach of 69” and a record of 22-0 with 20 KO’s. He is the current Interim WBA World Welterweight Champion and should be fighting Marcos Rene Maidana the WBA Welterweight Champion and not Julio Diaz 40-9 (29KO) but that is the business of boxing. In his last six fights he has won five of them via KO or TKO only going 12 vs. Jan Zaveck. What makes Keith Thurman dangerous is his power that can KO anyone at 154 lbs. and 147 lbs. add to that good boxing and he is dangerous. 

Shawn “Showtime” Porter is the IBF Welterweight Champion from Akron, Ohio. Who is 26 years old standing at 5’7” with a reach of 69 ½” recently he demolished Paulie Malignaggi in four rounds for his first title defense. Porter is a relentless and a force to be reckoned with; however, his record is not one of a KO artist.  Although, Porter can hurt any boxer in the 147 lbs. division in his last six fights there has been only one TKO. How will Porter handle a power puncher like Keith Thurman?  His only threat at the moment is the U.K.’s Kell “The Special One” Brook at the age of 27; he has been the eternal contender for a world title shot. Brook stands at 5’9” with a 69” reach and a record of 32-0 with 22 KO’s, yet he has made his career in the U.K. against sub-par opponents. Outside the European Vyacheslav Senchenko, who he defeated by TKO in four rounds in a IBF Welterweight title eliminator Brook has not faced any of true world class recognition.

The ex-IBF Welterweight World Champion and still a good boxer is the 5’8” 27 year old Devon Alexander from St. Louis, Missouri. Alexander professional boxing record is 25-2 with 14 KO’s he has defeated the current WBA Welterweight Champion Marcos Rene Maidana 33-3 (31KO), and Lucas M. Matthysse 34-3 (32KO).  His only two defeats have been against the ex-WBO Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley who recently lost to Manny Pacquiao, and the current IBF Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter. Devon Alexander is still a solid contender and it will be interesting if he regains his title again.

There are two dark horses with the boxing experience to upset any boxer on a given night. The first is the crafty New York / Puerto Rican veteran ex-champion Luis Collazo 35-5 with 18 KO’s who recently KO’s Victor Ortiz and is facing on May 3^rd the 5’8” ex-world Light Welterweight Champion Amir “King Khan” Khan 28-3 (19KO) for the Vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Title. Khan lately has been dropped 4 times in his last 3 fights, but he holds important victories versus Zab Judah, Marcos R. Maidana, and Paulie Malignaggi.

The next dark horse is the 5’8” Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero at age 31 with a professional record 31-2-1 with 18 KO’s. Guerrero can defeat almost any B+ class boxer at 147 lbs. and upset any boxer on any given night. 

The Argentines have a good stable of boxers within the welterweight division. Among them the dangerous 30 year old Argentine Luis C. “El Potro” Abregu standing at 5’10 with a 72” reach. His professional record 36-1 with 29 KO’s the most recognizable fight was against Timothy Bradley, a fight in which he lost by a 12 round unanimous decision.  The 5’7” Argentine Diego G. “La Joya” Chaves is an interesting welterweight but the majority of his fights have been in Argentina. When he finally faced a boxer in the USA it was Keith Thurman and within 10 rounds he lost by KO. Chaves has a professional record of 23-1 with 19 KO’s a decent boxer, be that as it may, he stays fighting in Argentina and doesn’t seem to follow the steps of other Argentine boxers like Maidana, Sergio Martinez, and Matthysse.  The final welterweight is the current WBA Champion Marcos Rene Maidana with a professional record 35-3 with 31 KO’s coming of a victory over Adrien Broner for the WBA Welterweight World title. This fight catapult him into a title shot vs. the undefeated Welterweight King Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 3^rd, 2014. Regardless, of the result Marcos Rene Maidana may stay around the welterweight division for a few more fights.