LAS VEGAS: ProBox TV reported late, last year that, through our sources in Mexico, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's camp was "quietly negotiating" with Jaime Munguia for his next fight.
Since then, the rumor mill has only accelerated.
Golden Boy founder Oscar de la Hoya told reporters in December that "an all-Mexico duel" between his boxer Munguia and his former charge Canelo "would be an honor" to promote.
Now, talking to ProBox TV and other reporters from his Las Vegas mansion Friday, the 50-year-old said a Canelo vs. Munguia fight "is a real possibility."
He said: "Again, I’m going to say it’s up to Canelo. He picks his opponents. And I think if Munguia knocks out John Ryder [on January 27 in Phoenix], who went the distance with Canelo, that’s a pretty good statement."
For de la Hoya, who helped promote last year's best-selling combat sports event between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia, a bout between Canelo and Munguia "will be a huge mega-fight."
But first, he said, Munguia must defeat Ryder. Then, he added, Canelo will decide what's what.
"[Canelo] holds the cards and I respect that," de la Hoya told us. "I might have criticized him a bit because I had a thorn on my side because he decided to work with another promoter, but being around him, promoting him, I admire him. I have to. There’s no other way.
"If he picks [David] Benavidez, [David] Morrell, [Jermall] Charlo, or Munguia … which I’d advocate towards because we haven’t seen a [elite] Mexican-Mexican fight since Barrera-Morales … you know those fights are fire. I’d love to see something like that again. It all depends on Canelo."
The bout, should it materialize, could well land in Las Vegas — but not just any Vegas venue.
Golden Boy in recent months has held events at The Cosmopolitan which is a high-class venue that fits 2,000 people. The company is also in town this week for the Vergil Ortiz vs. Fredrick Lawson event which takes place at the swaggy Virgin Hotels, slightly off-strip.
The boxing industry has utilized the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay, the MGM Grand, and the T-Mobile Arena, a place Canelo has fought at in recent years.
But de la Hoya hopes Canelo vs. Munguia can make a statement.
"Imagine Canelo-Munguia at the Allegiant Stadium," he said, referring to the $1.9 billion home of the Las Vegas Raiders, which could expand its capacity of 65,000 for NFL games to 80,000 or more for boxing, when floor space can be occupied with more seats.
Should that Mexico-Mexico showdown land at that ground, de la Hoya hinted at a Superbowl of boxing for the undercard, a nod to the days of Don King when cards were truly stacked with action-packed 50:50 fights featuring big names.
"[Imaging] Vergil Ortiz on the undercard, with Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda on the undercard."
Finishing, de la Hoya said: "It all depends on Canelo."
