Canelo Alvarez wants to face Manny Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Former junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is open to the idea of stepping into the ring with Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

There have been talks of staging a 12-round encounter between Pacquiao and Alvarez in the past as the 24-year-old Mexican served as one of the viable options to lock horns with the renowned Pinoy southpaw due to his pay-per-view drawing power.

Although a Pacquiao-Alvarez duel could be a certified box-office hit and would provide a good payday for both men, Alvarez’s superior size was a big issue in hindering the marquee match-up.

“There have been talks about fighting him and I would love to do so,” Alvarez admitted in an interview with FOX Deportes.

Pacquiao bagged a world title in his eighth weight-class in November 2010 when he dominated Antonio Margarito in 12 rounds to claim the vacant WBC light middleweight championship, but he fought the 5-foot-11 slugger at a catchweight of 150 pounds.

On the other hand, Alvarez has been a staple of the 154-pound division since his sixth-round stoppage of Luciano Cuello in July 2010 and captured the same WBC belt in March 2011 against Matthew Hatton via unanimous decision.

“He’s a great champion. He has faced the best. He has experience. He’s a hard punching left-hander. He’s fast. He does not stop throwing punches. He can throw from any angle,” Alvarez said of Pacquiao’s style of fighting.

Freddie Roach, the longtime trainer of Pacquiao, reportedly stressed that he would consider a bout with Alvarez if it takes place at a weight between 150 and 152 pounds.

Pacquiao is currently booked to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in PH) in Las Vegas, Nevada, while Alvarez is scheduled to square off against James Kirkland a week later in Houston, Texas. – Rappler.com