San Antonio's Biggest Fight in 20 Years

April 2, 2013

By Joe Calvey, Sr.

jcalvey@aol.com

Maybe by fight time the two undefeated boxers who stormed through Texas on a recent PR tour will be mortal enemies. As it is WBC Super Welter Weight Champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and WBA Super Welter Weight Champion Austin "No Doubt" Trout are poised and confident without the manufactured animosity of "bitter" rivals. They meet April 20th in the Alamodome.

This fight promises to bring the biggest fight crowd to town in 20 years. To that end promoter and former 5 time world champion Oscar De La Hoya has priced thousands of seats at only $10. If the fight lives up to expectations San Antonio fight fans will have local co-promoters Mike Battah and 2 time World Champion Jesse James Leija to thank along with De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

In order to get a good idea of who might win this fight I visited longtime ring expert Paddy "The Fin" O’Rourke outside the downtown San Fernando Gym. O’Rourke is a former boxing manager/promoter from the Emerald Isle who was known to place a wager or two on his fighters and not necessarily to win. Legend has it he was escorted to a boat leaving the island at the suggestion of the local Guardia who strongly discouraged him from ever returning to his homeland.

"The first thing you have to do is take it by the numbers," O’Rourke began. "The most important number shows Alvarez is the favorite according to the sports books in Vegas".

"How did they come to this conclusion?" he pondered aloud for my benefit.

Without any embarrassment O’Rourke reached into a coat pocket and pulled out a pastrami sandwich pausing only to giving it a casual inspection before biting off a chunk that would choke most men.

Grabbing my laptop he began pounding the keys to pull up one web site after another with the speed of a teenager on Facebook.

"There is the first problem with Alvarez winning easy". He wiped his chin as a bit of mustard and spit became airborne. "Trout is a southpaw and gives everybody some trouble, he’s a winner and he’s still relatively hungry. He has something to prove"

"Trout has power, Trout faced bigger opponents but Alvarez has fought 115 more rounds and knocked out as many guys as Trout has faced." O’Rourke said thoughtfully as he studied the screen and began typing again.

What about the crowd I asked. Trout is after all from Texas and Alvarez is from Mexico. At this point O’Rourke looked at me as if I was crazy.

"The fight might as well be in Mexico City. He began. "That dome will resemble the way the Alamo did to Davy Crockett as far as Trout is concerned".

"Trout also has trouble finishing lately. That normally would be due to stepping up in competition but that is definitely not the case. Eight of his last ten fights have ended in a decision." O’Rouke mumbled as the remainder of the pastrami sandwich was shoved into one massive cheek.

"Look, Alvarez has beat up guys who collectively have knocked out 419 other guys. Trout’s opponents have only 334 WINS between them." O’Rourke said looking pleased with himself.

"Anything can happen inside the ring, so, yes, Trout is a dangerous opponent who can win. But the guy is about to jump off a moving train crossing a canyon. No way he wins." O’Rourke pulled out a cell phone then wandered around the corner of the building and disappeared.

"Canelo" Alvarez has fought more and better competition. He has knocked out more opponents than the older Trout has faced. Alvarez may also have revenge on his mind since his older brother Rigoberto, 35 was outpointed by Trout in a fight coincidentally held in Guadalajara.

But Trout has some of his own motivation aside from a deep desire to win and win big. Alvarez is looking past him to a bigger payday with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Without a doubt this lack of respect rankles "No Doubt" Trout.

By calling out Mayweather to face him later this year in what would easily be this year’s Mega-Fight plus the biggest payday of Alvarez’s career he may have inadvertently given Trout bulletin board type motivation. That fight, however, will only come to San Antonio through a PPV cable hook up so getting tickets for this fight should be your priority.

Two undefeated fighters. One, a national hero in Mexico on the cusp of international greatness and the other a little known champion with a solid resume. If the script were pre-written by the promoters Trout would get knocked out, Alvarez would get Mayweather and the ballet would continue. But the fight game can bring surprises. Just ask Manny Paquiao or Lennox Lewis who both suffered being knocked out when they least expected it.

Regardless of the outcome San Antonio is going to shine with this fight card. The undercard features Omar Figeroa from the Rio Grand Valley sporting his 20-0 record with 16 knockouts against Puerto Rico’s Abner Cotto and his 16-0 record with 7 knockouts. I meant to ask O’Rourke about his fight before I walked over to Mi Tierra for lunch but I couldn’t resist the thought of a fresh bowl of menudo. Yes, life is good in San Antonio.

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jcalvey@aol.com