Saul Alvarez Should Call Out Kermit Cintron

The most recent issue of The Ring has Kermit Cintron ranked second at junior middleweight, behind only Miguel Cotto and ahead of Alfredo Angulo and Saul Alvarez.

Keep in mind, that issue went to print well before Cintron's upset loss in July to Carlos Molina. Give Cintron credit for jumping right back into action and scoring a unanimous decision victory over a game, if heavily flawed, Antwone Smith last night (as Bernard Hopkins astutely pointed out during the broadcast, that bark Smith emits with every punch makes a counter-puncher's work very easy).

Still, one has to imagine that Cintron might slip in the next issue to the lower part of the top 10.

He remains one of the biggest names in the division, holder of one of the better resumes, but he is arguably on a downward turn. If I were involved with handling Saul Alvarez's career, that's a matchup I'd like to see my fighter make. 

Alvarez is scheduled to meet Alfonso Gomez on September 17. Gomez, 23(12)-4-2, is ranked  No. 2 for Alvarez's WBC belt. As Molina proved against Cintron last month, nothing should be taken for granted in boxing, but just the same, it's a relatively safe bet that the intense and talented Canelo will do what he needs to do that night.

After that he should be gunning for a big name. Wildly popular in his native Mexico and with a Ring cover already to his credit, he is one of the biggest rising stars in the sport. Beyond that, he appears to have the goods. His last fight was a one-sided beatdown of the previously No. 4-ranked Ryan Rhodes.

Miguel Cotto is ranked No. 1 at 154. Every boxing fan in the world looks forward to the day when the young Mexican phenom and the Puerto Rican legend finally clash, but that bout might be a little while in the making. The 21-year-old Alvarez needs to stay active, and against opponents who can elevate his standing. 

The No. 1 ranked WBC contender is Vanes Martirosyan. Ring has the Armenian ranked one spot behind Alvarez at five. 30-0 with 19 knock outs, Martirosyan has few recognizable names on his list of opponents.

I would most certainly clear my Saturday night schedule to see Alvarez and Martirosyan, both undefeated, go at it. But I pretty much try to see any boxing match put on television. I'm not sure what appeal this fight would have to the more casual fan.

Alfredo Angulo, 19(16)-1, is ranked No. 3 by The Ring, one spot above Alvarez. Angulo lost a unanimous decision to Cintron in 2009, 116-112 on all three cards.

A fight between Cintron and Alvarez would be a great Saturday night matchup for either of the two American pay channels. It would be a great potential precursor to a dream matchup between Alvarez and Cotto. In my boxing world, it's what happens next at 154.