Saul Alvarez has been traveling down the road to legendary status, but on Saturday, Sept. 14, his ride blew a tire. Alvarez was dominated by Floyd Mayweather, losing via majority decision and thus placing a temporary pause on his rise to super-stardom.
Question is, who should Alvarez face next?
Even after losing to Mayweather, there are few who question what Alvarez is capable of doing in the ring. He's a decorated performer who now rests at 42-1-1 with 30 knockouts at the age of 23.
Here are his best options for fight No. 45.
Alfredo Angulo
Weight Class: Light Middleweight
Record: 22-3-0 (18 KO)
Age: 31
Next Fight: TBA
The record may show that Alfredo Angulo lost to Erislandy Lara in his most recent fight, but there's more to it than that. Angulo and Lara fought in brutal fashion, with the former picking up two knockdowns before suffering a fractured orbital bone.
If not for the injury and visa problems, Angulo would likely be closer to a title fight than a comeback.
This makes Angulo the perfect opponent for fellow countryman Canelo Alvarez. Both have something to prove after disparaging losses. With Angulo possessing a record of 22-3-0 with 18 knockouts, Canelo would have the opportunity to test his power against an established slugger.
A win would go a long way towards restoring faith in his abilities.
In a recent interview with HustleBoss.com, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer stated that he would prefer if Alvarez faces either Angulo or Miguel Cotto in his next fight. Angulo is signed to Golden Boy Promotions and Cotto is a respected fighter who has a resume worth marveling.
If you're looking for pure entertainment, you can't go wrong with either fighter.
Miguel Cotto
Weight Class: Light Middleweight (154 pounds)
Record: 37-4-0 (30 KO)
Age: 32
Next Fight: vs. Delvin Rodriguez on Oct. 5, 2013
Two fights prior to his fight with Alvarez, Mayweather took on Miguel Cotto in one of the most competitive battles of his career. The Puerto Rican star actually drew blood against Mayweather, causing many to rub their eyes and check to see if it was all really happening.
Although Cotto has lost consecutive fights, he's still one of the biggest names in boxing and would be an excellent fighter for Alvarez to gauge his star power.
Should Alvarez defeat Cotto, he'd likely return to the front of the line in the light middleweight division. He's already defeated Austin Trout, and while there may be other rising stars for him to face, Cotto would be the true measuring stick for Alvarez.
A win would send him back into the title picture, while a loss would prove that there's still work to do.
The obstacle for this fight is that, should Cotto defeat Delvin Rodriguez on Oct. 5, he could opt to follow a different route. He's been in back-to-back title fights, and even with consecutive defeats, is in line for a championship bout at any moment.
If there's one fight that you should be hoping for, however, it's this one.
Carlos Molina
Weight Class: Light Middleweight
Record: 25-5-2
Age: 30
Next Fight: TBA
Carlos Molina fought on the undercard of Canelo versus Mayweather, winning the IBF Light Middleweight title from Ishe Smith via split decision. With the win, Molina moves to 25-5-2 and cements his status as one of the best in his division.
Now, even Mayweather wants to see Molina defend his title against Canelo.
Why not make it happen?
Alvarez needs a signature victory to respond to his rather lopsided defeat at the hands of Money Mayweather. Molina isn't the biggest name in the boxing industry, but he is a champion and Alvarez would have the opportunity to claim a belt in high-profile fashion after losing one fight prior.
A match against Cotto would draw more headlines and shine a broader light on Canelo's progression, but championship gold is tough to come by. Now that he's near the top of his craft, it's on Alvarez to recover from the loss and return to his perch.
There's no better way for Canelo do that than to get a title belt around his waist again.
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