Canelo Alvarez is arguably the biggest star in boxing not named Floyd Mayweather Jr. these days, so when rumors hit the wires that a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao was being discussed it sent the sport into uproar.
While there is truth to the rumors of Golden Boy founder Oscar De La Hoya meeting with Top Rank boss Bob Arum to "bury the hatchet" and open up avenues for cross promotion again, Alvarez denied any talks about Pacquiao being underway.
Canelo promises Lara will pay for "disrespecting all Mexicans"
"These are nothing more than rumors, rumors because Oscar spoke to Arum to make peace but never discussed this fight. The media began to speculate, but it was never discussed," Alvarez said of the Pacquiao talk before leaving the door wide open for a future showdown.
"Right now we have [Erislandy] Lara, but [if that fight comes along, Pacquiao is] clearly one of the best, and you have to fight the best," Alvarez said.
Higher weight class helping Cotto increase power?
Canelo's smart to focus all his attention on Lara for the time being, though, as he fights a style that's proven to give Alvarez fits. Lara is a slick, defensive counter-puncher-the last two opponents employing that style have been Austin Trout, who narrowly lost to the Mexican despite getting knocked down for the first time in his career, and Mayweather who won in a rout.
Another fight that could be made for Canelo this year is against the winner of Miguel Cotto vs. Sergio Martinez. They are slated to clash on June 7, and with talks re-opening with Arum a fight between the winner and Alvarez is certainly feasible.
"Cotto-Martinez is a very, very interesting fight, and it will be a good fight. I wish both of them luck. Martinez is a great fighter and so is Cotto, and the winner is in line to face Lara or Canelo," De La Hoya said.
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