An "announced crowd of 16,540" watched Canelo Alvarez defeat Amir Khan at the new T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, and the "sensational knockout ... will be remembered for as long as the building does business with boxing," according to Steve Carp of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. The venue's first sporting event saw Alvarez retain his WBC middleweight title by knocking out Khan in the sixth round (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/8). In Las Vegas, Ed Graney wrote "early reviews for this sport in this venue are terrific." T-Mobile Arena has a "very Barclays Center feel to things, and one main difference" here compared to the Brooklyn venue are video screens under the center scoreboard that "present those watching even more angles to witness the action" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/8). Graney also wrote the next step for T-Mobile Arena is "moving major cards into the town's sparkling new, state-of-the-art venue." The world is "getting smaller, and the competition for hosting such events is global, meaning anything Las Vegas can do to renew its claim as the boxing capital of the world is a good thing for local revenue streams" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/7).
SHOWDOWN WITH GGG? Golden Boy Promotions co-Founder & President Oscar De La Hoya, who represents Alvarez, "had previously been noncommittal" about making Alvarez's next fight against Gennady Golovkin, but on Saturday "gave hope to those who want to see it so badly." De La Hoya: "Those negotiations will happen behind closed doors, and when we come to an agreement, we will let everyone know" (ESPN.com, 5/8). In L.A., Lance Pugmire writes the public positions following Alvarez's knockout of Khan "made it seem like there would be few impediments" to an Alvarez-Golovkin fight "later this year." Alvarez: "I'll fight him at 160 [pounds], there's no issue. Now we sit down and discuss it." De La Hoya said that he will "feel empowered during negotiations by Alvarez's overwhelming popularity edge over Golovkin." Alvarez "had six times more pay-per-view sales than Golovkin in the fall" (L.A. TIMES, 5/9). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole noted De La Hoya "called T-Mobile Arena Alvarez's new home," but invited Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones to Saturday's fight by saying that AT&T Stadium "was in the running to host" Alvarez-Golovkin. Meanwhile, sources said that there is momentum for Alvarez to "make a rematch with Miguel Cotto" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/8). SPORTS ON EARTH's Karim Zidan wrote under the header, "Canelo vs. GGG Is Boxing's Next Megafight" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 5/8).
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM: USA TODAY's Martin Rogers wrote the proof of an Alvarez-Golovkin bout "is in the parchment," as once the contract "is inked, then we have something to look forward to, and not before." What "can't be questioned is that a match-up between Alvarez and Golovkin would be a perfect tonic for the sport, a genuine super-fight between two legitimately entertaining, fearless and supremely talented men, both of whom share a rather pleasing habit of avoiding nonsensical boorishness and empty swagger." Boxing "needs excitement and a bout between Alvarez and Golovkin would undoubtedly provide it in spades" (USA TODAY, 5/8). In Las Vegas, Ray Brewer wrote it is "easy to see why some feel" Alvarez "is on his way to becoming the sport's hottest commodity." He is "already a superstar in Mexico, including a lucrative endorsement deal with Tecate" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 5/8). ESPN's Dan Rafael said of Alvarez-Golovkin, "That is the maybe $50 million, $60 million question. That's the kind of money -- maybe more -- that that fight would be worth altogether. The fight is going to happen, I believe. The only question that remains is will it be the next fight?" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/8).
WISHFUL THINKING: The LAS VEGAS SUN's Brewer wrote of the "possible matchups boxing has to offer," Alvarez-Golovkin "is the most appealing." But the fight "isn't guaranteed to happen," and is actually "a long shot" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 5/8). ESPN’s Teddy Atlas said of an Alvarez-Golovkin bout, "That fight’s not going to happen." Atlas said of Alvarez' camp, "They’re going to talk about it. ... It makes things bigger for them, but they’re not going to take that risk. Golovkin needs them to make money. They don’t need Golovkin, especially after this, to make money. With this great Latino base behind them, they can make money fighting anybody.” Atlas said of a rematch between Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather, “That’s a possibility, but who is going to buy it?" ESPN’s Kevin Connors said, "Boxing can’t get out of its own way. You should want to make that Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin fight happen. It should not only be about the money" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/7).
