The Power of Canelo Alvarez

Mexican Star Faces Shane Mosley on May 5

Next Saturday night, on Cinco de Mayo, Mexican star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (39-0-1, 29 KOs) will take on former champ and future Hall of Famer “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KOs) in a bout for Canelo’s WBC Light Middleweight Championship. Their marquee matchup is set to explode at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This May 5 collision will be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View and in theaters across the nation.

The Alvarez–Mosley bout will have the humongous fan base of Canelo watching in rapt attention. This 12-round attraction is on the undercard of the Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto war, promoted in association with Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions. That’s a lot of star power in this May 5 matchup.

For the redheaded Canelo, this upcoming match will no doubt add to his stratospheric and continuous rise to superstardom if he beats the veteran Mosley. At just 21 years old with an undefeated record, Alvarez is favored to get the win over 40-year-old “Sugar” Shane, whose last fight was in May 2011 versus Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao (in which he lost by unanimous decision). Canelo’s last bout was a November 2011 TKO victory over Kermit Cintron.

So will this Alvarez–Mosley match live up to its hype? Will Shane be able to turn back the hands of time like Bernard Hopkins has done?

Alvarez is the big favorite so if there’s some “Sugar” left in Mosley, he would pull off a big upset against the Jalisco hero.

If Canelo wins, the spotlight will glow even brighter as the stage expands for the carrot-topped kid, who Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer called a “hero and a heart throb” to his millions of fans in Mexico and beyond.

His power over his fans was clearly evident at last month’s kickoff event at the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. Taking his place (and royal throne) next to his “Ring King” fellow fighters, Alvarez was relaxed among the other star-studded gladiators in Mayweather, Cotto and Mosley.

With a powerful force found in his fists, Canelo has scored 29 knockouts in his 39 victories. Will he get his 30th KO against the pride of Pomona’s Mosley, who has earned a whopping 39 KOs in his own career? Alvarez (who’s been sparring with Steve Forbes, now facing Jessie Vargas on the undercard) remains the huge favorite and looks to shine come May 5.

And there is one certain guarantee for the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs. Shane Mosley battle: The power and charisma of the young Alvarez will touch the masses of his ever-growing fan base on May 5. He is a magnet to the fans, transcending the sport in a way that hasn’t been seen by anyone else in boxing for a long time. Some people just have a star quality, an “X Factor” appeal that money can’t buy and no PR company could create even if they tried. You either have it or you don’t. Everyone agrees Canelo has that powerful combination: a worldwide likable appeal backed up by his skills in the ring. A powerful combo indeed.

I’ve seen the reaction of his adoring fans, both men and women, boys and girls of all ages. After the press conference ended at Grauman’s Theatre, a group of us media were leaving the venue and walking through the parking structure when we encountered a loud and lively ruckus. In the parking lot, and in the middle of flashing light bulbs of fans, cell phone videos, posters being thrust and Sharpies being shoved was the fair-haired freckled Canelo.

Smiling and unphased (and also surrounded by mega security), the slugger slowly made his way to the auto waiting to whisk the superstar away.

But with each and every step he took, his excited fans couldn’t contain their excitement of being close to their idol. With screams of “Canelo, Canelo, Canelo!” the boxer waved goodbye to the huge throng of fans surrounding his vehicle.

There were parents with their children, female fans who now love boxing because of the “heart throb” Canelo, and fight fans who admire his knockout power in this fresh-faced warrior. I asked some of his enthralled fans what they liked best about their favorite fighter? “He’s young, he’s fun to watch and he’s got POWER!” came the replies.

There is no doubt Canelo has power. Power in the ring and a magnetic power over his adoring fans.

Shane Mosley will face this power on May 5. If Alvarez defeats “Sugar” Shane, expect an even more powerful Cinco de Mayo celebration for Team Alvarez.

Tickets: mgmgrand.com

Photos by Maria Hedrick/MariaHedrick.com

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