• Middleweight

Alvarez putting Mayweather defeat behind him

Saul Alvarez lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September © AP

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Former junior middleweight titlist Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez said on Friday he is putting his September defeat against pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. behind him and is anxious for his March 8 ring return against Mexican countryman Alfredo Angulo.

"This is a great fight for me and for the fans and I can't wait to get back in the ring on March 8," said Alvarez, of the fight that will headline a Showtime PPV card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "Angulo is a true warrior and I have to be alert every second of every round when I fight him. I expect that we will put on a fight no one will ever forget."

Angulo is also coming back from a loss - a 10th-round TKO against Erislandy Lara on June 8 in a fight in which he suffered a badly damaged orbital bone - and looking to re-establish himself.

"Canelo is a great young fighter who has earned his way to the top," Angulo said. "That being said, I know I'm hungrier than he is right now and I will take him to places he has never been. Our fans in Mexico and around the world will see what we're all about when we fight."

Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer and Alvarez's team talked about various opponents, including junior middleweight titleholder Carlos Molina and interim titlist Lara. But Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs) picked Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs), the opponent Golden Boy was pushing for.

"When we presented opponents to Canelo for his return fight, he immediately took the man who he expected would give him the toughest challenge in the ring and who also would help him give the fans the most exciting fight possible," Schaefer said. "Alfredo Angulo fits the bill on all counts and this will not only be a stern test for Canelo, but I know fight fans are going to see all action from start to finish."

Schaefer is laying it on a bit thick as it relates to Angulo being the toughest challenge because Molina and Lara, with their slick boxing skills, undoubtedly would give Alvarez a hard time. They are mobile boxers, which does not play to Alvarez's strengths. Angulo hits hard, but he is a straight-ahead slugger more made for Alvarez's style.

Where Schaefer is right on is that Alvarez-Angulo is probably a much more fan friendly fight worth the pay-per-view money compared to matches against Molina or Lara.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

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