By James Slater – Unbeaten welterweight/light-middleweight sensation Saul Alvarez of Mexico will take another step up in class in his next fight, when he will meet the ultra-experienced and durable Lovemore Ndou on December 4th in Mexico. The exciting 20-year-old, already 34-0-1(26) is coming off his impressive 6th-round KO of former welterweight king Carlos Baldomir, and against the Australian (born in South Africa) known as “The Black Panther,” Alvarez will be looking to stop another warrior who possesses a fine chin..
At age 39, Ndou, a former IBF light-welterweight title challenger and the current IBO welterweight champion, may be getting on in years, but he is still in fantastic shape and he has never been stopped in over 60-fights (48-11-2(31) overall). Also, having been in with a who’s who of the 140 and 147-pound divisions, Ndou has learnt just about all there is to know. Could the Australian citizen, who has been in with stars like Miguel Cotto (L12), Paulie Maligning (L12x2) and Kermit Cintron (who also out-pointed him), know a little too much for “Canelo” at this stage in his promising career?
It will be interesting to see what weight the fight takes place at. Ndou is a welterweight, but Alvarez has boxed up at close to light-middleweight a few times, including his last fight, the KO of “Tata.” If the December fight also sees Alvarez come in at around the 150-pound mark, he may be too strong for Ndou, who only moved up from 140 a couple of years ago. Can Alvarez still make 147?
Fast becoming one of the most talked-about potential stars of the sport, Alvarez is growing from a physical standpoint, as well as from a fame standpoint. Yet to show any real weaknesses (although, to be fair Jose Miguel Cotto, brother of the more famous Miguel Cotto, did wobble Alvarez back in their May 2010 fight), the fighter who is barely out of his teens clearly feels he can handle as seasoned a fighter as Ndou; at either 147 or at a weight slightly higher.
Should he become the first man to take Ndou out, Alvarez will have topped his impressive KO win over the rock-chinned Baldomir (who had been stopped once previously, way back in 1994). However, Ndou, in speaking with Fightnews.com said this will not happen.
Ndou was not impressed by Alvarez’ stoppage win over Baldomir:
“I sparred Baldomir recently and I know he’s a shot fighter,” Ndou said. “I know Alvarez is looking for a win over a veteran but I want him to know he has picked on the wrong veteran. I am going to kick his ass.”
Of course, Baldomir, also 39-years-of-age, talked a good fight before getting it on with Alvarez himself – only to get taken out in style. “Canelo” will make some statement if he does a similar job on Ndou, but as superb as he’s looking right now, Alvarez might do just that!
Ndou, who has won two and drawn one since his loss to Cintron, will be in top shape, though, and having fought as recently as September, the older man will be sharp. Get ready for what could possibly be the most interesting fight so far in the career of the latest Mexican sensation.