Canelo running out of reasons not to fight GGG

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  • Winning combo: Canelo floored Liam Smith.

    For the second straight fight, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez dominated a mis-matched British fighter and for the second straight fight the conversation immediately switched to Gennady Golovkin.

    It’s not that the Mexican is treading water but Saturday night’s ninth-round stoppage over Liam Smith was as convincing as his triumph over Amir Khan in May, even if it lasted three more rounds.

    Post-Khan, Canelo proudly called Golovkin, who was seated nearby, into the ring with Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya only building the hype by claiming he would open negotiations with the Kazakh’s promoter Tom Loeffler the very next day. But nothing concrete materialised as negotiations never got past the verbal stage.

    With GGG’s convincing victory over Kell Brook last week – as brave Brits fill the void between what would be boxing’s next super fight – there is even more clamour for the two to be paired as they both are running out of opponents.

    It’s not quite at Pacquiao-Mayweather levels of misdirection but with Canelo scheduled to fight in New York on December 10 and likely again in May during Cinco de Mayo, anticipation among fight fans is now giving way to frustration.

    There is growing belief De La Hoya is the problem, wanting to protect his prize fighter as a devastating loss to Golovkin would affect his long-term bankability. There is also a concern he’s not ready to fight Golovkin at 160lbs having weighed in at around 155lbs for his last five fights.

    De La Hoya’s plan is for Canelo to gradually build up to taking on the powerful Kazakh at middleweight. Canelo was at pains to deny he’s ducking the Kazakh and claimed a $10m offer on is on the table, with the fresh hope of a bout next September.

    “We are a team,” he said. “And I’m not going to blame my promoter or anyone else. I’m ready for anyone. I’m 26 years old. I fought against the best in history.

    “We made an offer to Golovkin 30 days ago. It was $10 million but we haven’t heard anything back. If it happens, it happens. If not we will move on. I fear no one. I was born for this, and even though many people may not like it, I am the best fighter right now.”

    That last statement will not be resolved until he steps into the ring against Golovkin but Alvarez, 26, was the undisputed star of the show in Dallas, improving to 48-1-1.

    His popularity continues to soar as the attendance at AT&T Stadium of 51,240 bettered the 50,994 that turned out for Manny Pacquiao against Joshua Clottey in 2010.

    Returning to the 154lb division after claiming the WBC middleweight crown last November with a unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto, Canelo put Smith on the canvas in both the seventh and eighth rounds before ending it at 2:28 of the ninth with another big left hook to Smith’s right side.

    “I felt he was very strong in the beginning, so I felt I had to put that bodywork in so that slowly he would dwindle and I did my job,” said Alvarez, who connected with a left to the body and a right to the side of Smith’s head that knocked him down in the seventh.

    Smith, blood streaming from a cut near his right eye, kept coming, but even his best shots weren’t enough to slow Alvarez, and he went down again in the eighth after a crunching left hook to his midriff.

    “No excuses, but from my point of view my timing was just so off,” said Smith. “I couldn’t really land clean. I was slow – didn’t even make him think.”

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