Avila Perspective, Chap 185: Cinco de Canelo in Las Vegas

It’s Canelo time again.

Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez once again arrives in Las Vegas during Cinco de Mayo week to continue the celebration with countrymen, friends and fans and lovers of the sweet science.

This is Alvarez’s sixth Cinco de Mayo week fight.

“It’s very special for me. And I feel very proud to represent my country this weekend on Cinco de Mayo weekend. I feel blessed,” said Alvarez.

The four-division world titlist Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) returns to light heavyweight to face WBA titlist Dmitrii Bivol (19-0, 11 KO) the undefeated Russian fighter on Saturday May 7, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight will be shown on DAZN pay-per-view at 5 p.m.

Yes, it will be pay-per-view.

Every time Alvarez enters the prize ring the Mexican redhead receives a check of no less than $35 million. Few other fighters come close to receiving that and Alvarez truly likes to fight a lot.

Matchroom Boxing agreed to co-promote with Canelo Promotions along with paying the hefty purse with full knowledge that Canelo is what is known as a “sure thing” to get their money back and more. But though the Mexican fighter does bring in the viewers and money, it empties out the cash reserves so pay-per-view is the only resort.

Mega-Stars

Over the last 50 years one or two prizefighters emerge that capture the interest of all sports fans. These are the mega stars and they command the larger purses because of their drawing power.

Muhammad Ali drew fan interest back in the 1970s and proved there was extra money to be made with his mega fights against Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Larry Holmes. Despite fighting past his prime, Ali could still draw fans to his fights.

Sugar Ray Leonard followed and soon was joined by Mike Tyson as mega stars who commanded bigger money than the usual world champions.

Julio Cesar Chavez was the first Latino fighter to prove that he had drawing power and was followed by Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad as fighters of Latin heritage with drawing power.

De La Hoya became the number one draw in the early 2000s with his willingness to face other big names like Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Bernard Hopkins and Ricardo Mayorga. His willingness to face Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, though past his prime, helped launch them to higher plateaus too.

Mayweather proved that fighting against the opponent with the bigger fan base always pays off such as his excursions in fighting Conor McGregor, an MMA fighter, and Logan Paul, a social media influencer. It helped grab him $100 million dollar paydays.

Canelo’s status was helped when he fought Mayweather and then battled Gennady Golovkin twice, defeated Daniel Jacobs and felled light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev of Russia.

Once again Alvarez faces a Russian light heavyweight in Bivol.

Size difference

If you have ever stood next to Alvarez you would be surprised. He’s rather short, with not particularly a menacing appearance. More movie star than bodyguard. But when he attacks the body few if any can produce a sound as frightening as when he connects with a left hook to the liver.

Bivol too does not scare anyone. He might be the usher to a tennis arena rather than light heavyweight world champion. He’s a technician and has been training in Southern California for several years now. Mexican style fighting is familiar to him now.

But now he is fighting The Mexican.

“Yes of course I’m really glad I got my opportunity,” said Bivol during the press conference. “I hope we make a great fight for boxing fans. I believe in me.”

Though Alvarez is a 5 to 1 favorite according to Las Vegas odds, many insiders feel that Bivol has the greatest shot to topple the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“Of course, I want to keep my belt. Of course, I respect him. He is a great champion. I not only want to keep my belt but check my skills against the best fighter,” said Bivol.

Why would Bivol risk his record and undefeated status?

“It’s about proving legacy,” said Bivol’s Vadim Kornilov. “It’s about proving they are not afraid of anything.”

Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso feels Bivol presents a great challenge.

“Yes this is a very difficult fight against a very good champion and boxer,” said Reynoso.

Canelo agrees that Bivol is a tremendous challenge.

“He is a really good champion and a really good fighter. We know. He has a lot of skills and experience in amateurs He is a really solid champion at 175. But I know and I’m ready. I believe in my skills and I’m very confident in how strong I am,” said Alvarez.

“I like that kind of challenge because I just want to make history. I feel alive when I have this kind of challenge. I respect the talent of Dimitrii Bivol but it’s my time. I know he’s going to bring everything and I like the idea. The only thing I want is a really good fight.”

Canelo time has arrived once again.

Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom

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