Despite a humbling loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September, Canelo Alvarez remains one of boxing's brightest stars because of his prodigious talent and rabid Mexican fan base. Alvarez wants to capitalize on his stature by fighting three times in 2014, with his first choice being Miguel Cotto.
Alvarez and Golden Boy face issues with that fight, however. Cotto has a strong relationship with HBO, and although he's a free agent, HBO is dangling a bout with Sergio Martinez at middleweight in front of him.
Cotto's expressed an interest in facing Martinez since taking his middleweight title would represent championships in four weight classes, making him the first Puerto Rican pugilist to achieve the feat.
"To be the first Puerto Rican to win titles in four weight divisions would be very tempting to me," Cotto said. "I have to talk to my team, but going for a middleweight championship would be [a goal]."
Martinez seems intent on getting the fight done as well. He may be even more inclined following fellow middleweight Gennady Golovkin's fourth knockout of the year, and GGG's call out after a TKO win against Curtis Stevens.
Since the odds seem more in favor of Cotto facing Maravilla than Alvarez, Canelo may have to look at a lower-profile alternative. The name popping up most often? Carlos Molina.
Molina defeated Ishe Smith on the undercard of Alvarez-Mayweather on September 14th, and despite a pedestrian 22-5-2 record with only six knockouts, would give Canelo a chance to add another belt to his waist.
Alvarez's adviser Jose Reynoso said, "The commitments with the PPV events as far as rivals go have to be first class. They have to be big names...We have to see what competitors are available for these dates." If Reynoso is to live up to his word, Molina likely won't cut it. Expect Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer to throw lots of dollar signs Cotto's way.
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