Hundreds brave heat to catch a glimpse of boxing’s next big thing

By Steve Galindo III and Hilda Martinez Carrillo

  After watching Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’ twelve round destruction of British fighter Matthew Hatton this past March, Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions proclaimed “There are great boxers throughout the sport, but at just 20 years- old, ‘Canelo’ has the charisma to connect with people like no fighter I’ve seen.” The “connection” that De La Hoya was speaking of was evident last Saturday (April 16th) afternoon at the Northgate Market on 43rd St., where a crowd of nearly 500 people stood for hours in the blistering sun for a chance to shake hands with the future of boxing.

   The enthusiastic crowd came equipped with boxing gloves, pictures, signs- anything that Canelo could put a sharpie to. Many waited for up to three hours — by noon the line had snaked all the way around the 50,000 square foot edifice. Call it a case of Canelo-Mania, in case you haven’t heard it’s spreading at a rapid rate. Oscar De La Hoya, a guy who knows a thing or two about attracting a crowd, knows exactly what kind of star he was getting when he signed Canelo to his promotional outfit back in January of 2010.

   Prior to signing on with Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo was already a full-fledged superstar in his native Mexico. At just 19-years-old, Canelo’s fights had been labeled as must see television, drawing record ratings — while attracting crowds of 12,000 to his live fights. Fast forward 15 months, and Alvarez is already having the same affect, only now in the U.S.

   His fight with Hatton gave premium cable giant HBO its highest rating in two years for a Boxing After Dark telecast. This week, Canelo’s boyish mug graces the cover of The Ring Magazine, which is a rarity given the fighters young age. But perhaps it isn’t so rare to see this particular fighter, he is being seen as the future Messiah of the sport.

   Mexico’s most popular fighter was in town to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Northgate Gonzalez Market 43rd St. store. The ultra popular supermarket chain has been a staple of the Latino community since its inception 31 years ago. It currently operates six stores in the region, and will open its seventh in City Heights later this year. An eighth store is tentatively scheduled to open in Barrio Logan within the first trimester of 2012. Co-Owner Victor Gonzalez (an avid boxing fan himself), who along with his 12 siblings formed Northgate, was instrumental in bringing the Jr. Middleweight Champ to San Diego. “It was very easy” Gonzalez admitted. “Canelo is a fellow paisano, we are from close to Guadalajara, as he is, and therefore it was very easy.” Gonzalez says that he hopes to have more events such as this one in the future.

   After nearly three hours of signing glove after glove, and what seemed to be endless photos, the young champ said no más. In a scene that was reminiscent of one of his walks down to the ring, Alvarez was whisked away by heavy security, amid cheers and screams from his adoring public. 

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Aaron Garcia: “No Soy Escalón De Nadie”

   A pesar de llevarse una decisión unánime el Febrero pasado contra Alejandro López (20-2, 7KOs) después de alejarse del deporte por casi dos años, muchos creen que el peso pluma de San Marcos, CA, Aarón García (10-1-2, 2KOs) es el candidato número uno para usarse como escalón. Por esa razón, el invicto Abraham “Chamaco” López (13-0, 10KOs) ha escogido enfrentarse a García a ocho vueltas el Viernes 29 de Abril en Ontario, CA. La diferencia es que García no está listo para ser escalón de nadie. “Si creen que soy solo una prueba para él, entonces están muy equivocados,” dijo García después de una intensa sesión de ejercicios. “Tengo hambre, soy un Aarón García nuevo. Tengo un nuevo equipo y voy a demostrarle a la gente quién es Aarón García el 29 de Abril”. Después de acumular una de las mejores trayectorias como aficionado en el sur de California en los últimos tiempos donde derrotó a peleadores como Vicente Escobedo, Francisco “Panchito” Bojado, Rocky Juárez y Brandon Ríos entre otros, García era un prospecto que fue firmado por Golden Boy Promotions en el 2004. Como consecuencia, García sabe dónde se encuentra el invicto López en su carrera, “Yo he estado ahí, se cómo se siente y yo no tengo la presión que él tiene para cumplir”. La contienda entre García y López será parte de la cartelera “New Blood” presentada por Thompson Boxing Promotions el 29 de Abril en Ontario, CA.