Mayweather vs. Canelo Rematch Would Push Boxing to New Heights

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez proved to be too young and inexperienced to threaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s undefeated record on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but a rematch would still help boxing soar.

The hype that surrounded this fight is enough in itself to prompt a rematch. The bout drew a live gate of $20 million and $100 million from pay-per-view, making it one of the richest fights in history, according to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com.

Whether you were rooting for Mayweather or Canelo on Saturday, you couldn't wait to watch the fight. It had all the storylines one could hope for: young vs. old, power vs. precision—heck, even Mexico vs. USA.

Yes, yes, I know what you're saying: "But then the fight happened."

OK, so Mayweather dismantled Alvarez just as he has every one of his opponents. I get it. But there's always tomorrow.

Was anyone actually calling Alvarez a true great before this fight? No, that would have been preposterous. His biggest win came against Austin Trout.

And that's my point. Alvarez was labeled the future of boxing—he isn't the face of the sport yet. This fight came sooner than it should have, but who were we to deny it? We wanted to see the young gun test his chances against an all-time great. Few truly expected Alvarez to upset Mayweather at this juncture.

Now, did Mayweather outclass Alvarez more than many of us expected? Sure, but it doesn't change the fact that Alvarez was never ready.

Mayweather vs. Alvarez II would still have the same dynamic storylines. It would still reap in money, as the world clamored for a more seasoned Alvarez to give it another go. And, if scheduled toward the end of Mayweather's contract with Showtime, Mayweather would grow older, while Alvarez would work on his craft in the meantime.

If Mayweather is ever going to be defeated before he hangs up his gloves, it's going to be against a fighter like Alvarez who has the power to end a fight in a small number of punches. Mayweather is too tactical, too experienced and too precise for any boxer in the world right now to beat him on the scorecards.

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Alvarez deserves another shot down the line to show what he learned from Mayweather on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

And, be honest, tell me you wouldn't watch a rematch.