By Les Dowgier

There is talk around the boxing world that 154lb. WBC champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 41-0-1, 30 KOs, is gunning for a September 14th showdown against arguably the biggest talent and the biggest mouth in the sport, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr., 43-0, 26 KOs.

This news should come as no surprise to most fight fans as Floyd has been one of the most “called out” fighters in the sport by any fighter within a stone’s throw of welterweight. The rationale is simple as Floyd isn’t called “Money” simply because he delivers in the ring; he delivers at the box office as well. Every fighter knows that a fight against Mayweather is a six- or perhaps seven-figure payday and in a showdown between the two aforementioned fighters, on September 14th of all days, both fighters would be seeing paychecks well into the seven-figure range. You see, September 14th falls on Mexican Independence Day weekend and Alvarez has become a national star in his homeland and that equation is as simple to figure out as 2 + 2.

So the fight certainly makes sense from a financial perspective, unfortunately, that’s really the only perspective it does make sense from. I don’t think anyone who knows the sport could argue with a straight face that this will be anything but a one sided destruction of the young Mexican. Despite his very impressive and extensive record, Alvarez is only 22 years old and still an unproven fighter with a style that is tailor made for the crafty Mayweather. As his 30 KOs indicate, Alvarez is a heavy handed fighter who likes to slowly chop down his opponents like a lumberjack plying his trade. He keeps coming forward, very calmly, and unleashes nicely balanced, thumping combination to the head and body. His calm demeanor in the ring may be his best asset and truly belies his youth. The problem however, is that Alvarez does not have a great defense and, as most heavy punchers, needs to plant his feet before he lets his hands go. That is a perfect recipe for the slick, fast and opportunistic Mayweather to pick Alvarez apart like a surgeon. Alvarez has shown a great chin and Mayweather isn’t really a knock out puncher, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a TKO in the later rounds as the punishment accumulates.

If this fight happens, I’ll understand. It will give Alvarez his biggest fight to date, an easy win for Mayweather and large paydays for both men. That being said, this is another fight that no one really wants to see and one that would do more harm than good for the popularity and reputation of the sport, especially since it would be on the biggest stage. Unfortunately, this opponent fits the Mayweather criteria perfectly; an overmatched fighter who, for one reason or another, will generate pay-per-view buys, so look for this fight to happen.