Sources have informed 15rounds.com that Golden Boy Promotions has put their flag in the ground for the Cinco de Mayo weekend of 2011. Golden Boy reportedly has the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on hold for the date of Saturday, May 7th. Headlining the pay-per-view event would be Saul Alvarez (35-0, 26 KOs) of Juanacatlan, Jalisco, Mexico in a twelve-rounder against an opponent to be determined.
Alvarez, who has been anointed by many as the next Mexican boxing superstar, currently holds the WBC Silver Light Middleweight title. Alvarez successfully defended that title this past Saturday, with a decision victory over longtime division gatekeeper Lovemore Ndou in Mexico. The win capped a busy 2009 campaign for Alvarez, who entered the year as a word-of-mouth prospect. Three of his five wins played to wide U.S. audiences, beginning his stoppages over Jose Miguel Cotto and Carlos Baldomir, which took place on big HBO Pay-Per-View cards and ending with his decision over Ndou, which was televised on HBO Latino.
In recent years, either Golden Boy or rival Top Rank has offered up a pay-per-view event on the weekend that surrounds the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Most times the events feature established Mexican boxing stars. Reportedly Alvarez is targeted for a February or March return before the May pay-per-view event.
Photo by Alma Montiel/World Boxing Council
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com
