Why The Canelo-Kirkland Match Is Truly Fan Friendly

Sit and enjoy - without coughing up a hundred bucks. 

I know, I know. Your mind is on Mayweather-Pacquiao. Why wouldn't it be? After all, the May 2nd matchup will be one of the few great superfights in boxing history. By superfights, I mean fights that actually impact the culture outside of boxing's traditional fan base. Yup, there's good reason to be hyped about this much hyped fight. Don't let the cynics discourage you.

There's another fight on the horizon, however, that's far more fan friendly. Indeed, as I've watched the promotion for this bout unroll, I've found myself wondering if the promotion for Mayweather-Pacquiao could have taken a few notes.

For the Canelo-Kirkland bout on May 9th, exactly one week after the Floyd-Manny showdown, is truly being promoted as a fan focused affair. For one thing, it's being held in a HUGE outlet, Minute Maid Park in Houston, to be exact.

Let's just say it's doubtful serious ticket issues will arise in the lead up to this event. For not only are the tickets for this bout affordable, there's apparently plenty of them available to the public. Yet the good parts of this promotion don't just end with the seating.

For here is a fight where the press is literally being asked to attend pre-bout events. Compare that to Mayweather-Pacquiao, where promoter Bob Arum abruptly ended a conference call because too many journalists were on hand. While it's undoubtedly true the overflow of writers and analysts was frustrating for those behind the bout, ending a professional call in a tantrum does not make for good PR.

Indeed, Arum went on to bitch and moan afterward about irrelevant smaller blogs and outlets. This very blog would probably fit Arum's definition of a pissant operation perfectly. Yet some of the PR folks behind Canelo-Kirkland asked if I'd be interested in going down to Texas for some of the promotional events, regardless.

See the difference?

It's not like Canelo-Kirkland is a dud of a match, either. Just you wait and see how packed Minute Maid Park is for this one. Throw in a free showing for HBO subscribers and you've got a hugely popular and relevant match on your hands.

Make no mistake about it, Canelo-Kirkland is no Mayweather-Pacquiao. It isn't trying to be, either. What it's trying to be is a bout that boxing lovers will truly appreciate. It isn't a pop culture event. It's a boxing match. And one well worth looking forward to, at that.

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya is doing this one right.