Shane Mosley vs. Saul Alvarez: Why Canelo Is Boxing's Next Superstar

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is ready to pick up the torch that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. can't carry forever. He will be the next great superstar in boxing. 

This is not news to Alvarez's legion of fans in his home country of Mexico, but his domination of "Sugar" Shane Mosley on Saturday was, in many ways, his American coming-out party. 

Mosley fought with heart, but the aging former champion was overmatched at every turn. This led to a lopsided unanimous decision loss. 

Canelo showcased his blinding hand speed and solid power throughout this match. Had he not been facing the historically iron jaw of Mosley, this fight surely would have ended in a KO. 

With the win, Alvarez improved his professional record to 40-0-1—an impressive feat considering he is just 21 years old. You see, Canelo turned pro when he was 15, and he is the youngest title-holder in boxing. 

Alvarez is polished, fast, powerful and fun to watch. He is energetic and aggressive. This is going to leave fans clamoring for more, as he has quickly put his name on the list of the truly big-name fighters in the sport.

This leaves Alvarez in a great position. He can either sit back and pick from a list of challengers, or he can position himself for a huge payday and a shot at eternal glory.  

He might not even have to wait for Pac-Man or Money to hand him the torch—Alvarez may have a chance to take it from them.

As the two super-fighters schedule their next opponents,—and they can't manage to agree to fight each other—Canelo is going to be the fighter most fans want to see. A unification bout with Money would seem to be the most likely. 

If he gets that shot or not, it is clear that it is only a matter of time before Alvarez sits atop the list of best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.