Saul Alvarez looking to become a champion in early 2011 with Senchenko clash.........

During his time as a professional, welterweight hopeful Rashad Holloway has sparred with a myriad of world class champions and contenders while dividing his time in between Las Vegas and the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. Whether trying to figure out Manny Pacquiao’s potent southpaw attack, dealing with Amir Khan’s speed and fluidity or sizing up the range of Armenian bomber Vanes Martirosyan, Holloway is always up for the task.

This past summer an unfamiliar face walked in Freddie Roach’s establishment, yet another pugilist Holloway would find himself testing his skills against. The man was Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko, the reigning WBA welterweight champion of the world who had migrated to the West Coast to train with Freddie Roach for an August defense of his title in Russia


While Holloway remembers dominating the action early, he claims that Senchenko would eventually adapt and handle himself much better during their sessions.

“After the first day he got a little better here and there,” Holloway said back in July. “I still have him well within range and I just sparred with him the other day. He had a little cut and we stopped sparring but it felt great being back in the ring.”

Senchenko would end up winning a tight decision over Venezuela's Charlie Navarro to raise his record 31-0 with 20 knockouts with the second defense of his belt. The fight seemed pretty routine on paper but it is actually the latest news surrounding the champion that is of most interest, as 20-year old welterweight sensation Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez reportedly has him in his sights.

Coming from Guadalajara, Mexico, Alvarez is a star in his native land and with the backing of Golden Boy Promotions he will be looking to make a splash on the American scene sooner than later. Given the chance to face of with rugged Matthew Hatton, the brother of former junior lightweight champion Ricky, or Senchenko, Alvarez opted to close in on his first world title.

Alvarez is coming off of a December 4th victory over former titlist Lovemore N’dou in Veracruz, Mexico in which he won nearly every round. After soaking in that performance, HBO’s Larry Merchant offered up much praise for the mild-mannered Alvarez.


“I think that Alvarez is probably the best 20-year old fighter I have seen in some time,” Merchant said. “In terms of being a complete fighter and having skills, toughness, hunger, bravery, a good sense of what is going on in the ring and knowing when to go and not to go, and having a balance of defense and offense. At this point he seems to be sophisticated beyond his years as a professional prizefighter. He’s playing hard and tough and showing stamina and skill. Right now I love what I see.”

Merchant went on to note that if Alvarez’s progression continues that he would love the idea of a fight with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao sometime late next year. If that fight is to ever come off, a title-winning effort against Senchenko would surely serve as a great foundation towards making it happen.

Alvarez’s next fight is scheduled to take place sometime in March, most likely in Los Angeles. After that he was scheduled for a May 7th date at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but could see that slot moved as Pacquiao’s people have reportedly been eyeing the same date and venue as opposed to the initial April 16th target date for their fight.

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really......

ive not seen him fight