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| You don't need to share the stage with Cotto in order to be relevant. |
So yeah, a lot of us fight fans wanted to see Canelo Alvarez step into the ring with a certain smallish middleweight champion from Puerto Rico this spring. Here's the thing, though: a Canelo-Cotto fight simply didn't materialize and that's all there is to it.
Yet Canelo isn't the sort of guy to let a bump in the road keep him from facing the best opposition available. Indeed, the Mexican icon went toe to toe with Erislandy Lara - Erislandy Lara! - for no other reason, really, but to show he was willing to mix it up with anyone.
People should take his upcoming fight with James Kirkland, then, for what it is - a major matchup between two very serious fighters. Those who write off the ferocious Kirkland do so at their own risk. This here is a dangerous man, folks. He's also a man who's now going to enter into the kind of A-list contest many had come around to believing they'd never see him in
Say what you will about Mr. Alvarez - the dude like to take chances. And it's kinda silly to think this May 9th bout in Houston is simply a risk free affair. For both Canelo and Kirkland are battling for future supremacy. Try telling me the winner won't end up in the ring with either Cotto or Golovkin down the road. There's more at stake in this bout than a check in the win column, there's also a possible seat at boxing's elite table to take into consideration.
Also let's not forget this match promises to be fan friendly. Canelo-Kirkland is simply not going to be confused with the ballet - not by anyone. The fact that it's also going to be presented on regular HBO is just the cherry atop the sundae. If Mayweather-Pacquiao is all about who the greatest fighter on earth is, then Canelo-Kirkland is all about the future. And if that doesn't make it worth everyone's time, I don't know what does.
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