Canelo Alvarez Winning the War to Be Boxing's Biggest Star with Amir Khan Fight

When Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KO) announced he'd be spending Cinco de Mayo weekend with Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KO), he managed to pull off an increasingly rare feat. In the era of social media, he surprised even the most connected reporters and insiders with the May 7 bout in Las Vegas. 

These days, every fight leaks long before it's officially announced. Even in boxing, the most old-fashioned of sports, information moves at a startling pace.

While two men end up alone in the ring together in the end, the rough and tumble world behind the scenes in boxing is definitely a team sport. Before a megafight like Canelo vs. Khan can be officially announced, it must first pass muster with television executives, managers and promoters in both camps and any number of go-betweens, lawyers and trainers.

Someone talks. Always.

But no one did here, perhaps because the two are divided by promotional affiliation and weight class. The result, ESPN's Brian Campbell explained, was a fight that reached the masses with nary the hint of a spoiler:

"

This one...simply wasn’t on the radar—not just because of the obvious weight difference, but more importantly the perceived business hurdles.

But social media has been swirling with excitement ever since the announcement parachuted onto the timelines of fans and experts alike. And with good reason because, let’s face it, the fight is fun.

"

That no one spoiled this announcement is a subtle, but very real, declaration that Canelo is a new kind of boxing superstar. While others may delight in extended and public negotiations, his preference is to do all of his talking with his fists. 

We last saw Khan seemingly still chasing the one that got away—a megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Canelo was tied in the press to Gabriel Rosado. The whole time, one supposes, the two were in the midst of plotting this pay-per-view extravaganza.

That's impressive.

The fight on everyone's radar is Canelo against fellow middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. Until that main course is served, we've been trained to expect both fighters to dine on a collection of appetizers that aren't remotely palatable.  

It may be a lousy way to run a business, but boxing fans are used to disappointment. 

With that model in mind, the Rosado fight made sense. But Canelo wants to take the hard road. And while many fighters say the same, actions speak at a different volume. The Khan fight all but screams, "I am here and I am not afraid."

Critics are quick to point out Khan is the smaller man, having made his name at 140 pounds before moving to welterweight in 2013. And, no, he doesn't have the same spit shine that made him one of England's brightest stars before Danny Garcia put him to sleep and permanently removed some of his luster.  

	Canelo Alvarez	Amir Khan
Record	46-1-1 (32 KO)	31-3 (19 KO)
Height	5'9"	5' 8.5"
Reach	70.5"	71"
Born	07/18/1990	12/8/1986
Pro Debut	10/29/2005	07/16/2005
Rounds Fought	326	203

But we could have been subjected to far, far worse. The quiet announcement that HBO would also be airing Golovkin's defense against the nondescript Dominic Wade is very much a reminder of what might have been—had Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions been willing to allow it.

"We are committed to putting on the biggest and best fights in boxing," Canelo's promoter Oscar De La Hoya told the press. "...Those who predicted that he would take an easy fight for his first defense have been proven wrong once again."

While many will continue to pine for the Golovkin fight, a bout with Khan in the meantime is fairly compelling as both a promotion and an athletic contest.

Khan is similar in height to Canelo and has a longer reach. His hand speed should be significantly faster and his ability to move laterally might also provide a challenge for the champion. He intends to study Mayweather's 2013 fight with Alvarez and will no doubt like what he sees.

Alternately a shot on the button, considering Khan's questionable chin, could lead to a highlight-reel knockout and further establish Canelo's legend. If Alvarez can get his range right and manage to corner Khan, victory is almost assured.

That, of course, is easier to type than to execute. Counterpunchers Garcia and Julio Diaz both gave Khan a lot of problems. But Canelo, a much bigger man than either, is flat-footed and plodding by comparison. Tracking Khan down will be the game—and at times it will be frustrating.

For Khan, it's an opportunity to rewrite his own history in a single night. For Canelo, it's another step on a path that leads to the Hall of Fame. For fans, it's a decent way to pass the time. And in boxing, "good enough" is about as good as it gets.

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.