Even though some boxing fans would like to see undefeated Saul "Canelo" Alvarez take on Miguel Cotto or James Kirkland in his next fight, former WBC welterweight champion Paul Williams might end up getting the next shot at the rising Mexican star.
According to Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, both camps are currently having serious negotiations.
"I met with [Williams' advisor] Al Haymon yesterday, and we met with Canelo on Monday, so I'm trying to put that together," Schaefer said. "That would certainly be a big fight for Sept. 15. We'll see. I'm going to be continuing to work on this today, and my hope is that within the next few days or by early next week that we can have the fight done and ready to announce."
Even though I would rather see Alvarez take on Cotto next (the Puerto Rican fighter doesn't seem to be in a rush to sign his next fight though), I certainly don't mind the idea of a matchup against Williams. For Canelo, Williams will offer stiff competition, and it'll give him the opportunity to test himself against another former champion.
However, from a marketing standpoint, a bout against Kirkland makes more sense, considering their respective fighting styles. Both like to get inside and trade, and the likelihood of a fight between the two going the distance is pretty low - making it an easy fight to sell.
Alvarez and Williams both have a lot to gain from a win, considering the fact they're both trying to prove that they belong with the very best. Both won their last fights convincingly, walking away with one-sided unanimous decisions. Even though Williams is arguably the better boxer, his sloppy defense might get him in trouble against a heavy puncher like Canelo. William's defense wasn't particularly impressive in his last fight against Nobuhiro Ishida, and that might end up costing him big against the undefeated Mexican.
David is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and boxing practitioner that has watched and studied MMA for the past 7 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
Sources:
Lem Satterfield, "Alvarez-Williams talks intensify"
Fight and fighter information from BoxRec.com
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