By Michael Marley

Too often we only hear about the business side of boxing.

We hear and read of the nasty feuds and fights between fighters and promoters, promoters and managers, fighters and trainers.

Credit unbeaten Mexican welterweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for providing a breath of fresh air and a reminder that boxing is also a sport.

Alvarez stood to pocket $12,000, or 20 percent of Argentina veteran Carlos "Tata" Baldomir's purse from their fight taking place Saturday night in Los Angeles.

The veteran from Santa Fe, Argentina, weighed in at 153.4 pounds, well over their "catch-weight" limit with something called the WBC Silver junior middleweight title at stake. Alvarez was on weight at 150.5 pounds.

California rules required the assessment of Baldy's $60,000 dollar purse because he did not make the contracted weight.

Easiest 12 G's the young Mexican fighter ever made, right?

Wrong, as the red-haired Alvarez refused the money.

Mature move and act of decency by a mere 20-year-old.

Alvarez is 33-0 with 25 knockouts while Baldomir stands 45-12-6 and has been skidding since a shock victory over Zab Judah a few years ago in Madison Square Garden.

(It didn't shock me as I worked with Baldy at the time and knew his capabilities against erratic Judah.)

"You don't hear of something like this very often," veteran promoter Don "War A Week" Chargin told me by phone from LA. "I confirmed it in Spanish with the manager, Jose Reynoso.

"The manager said Alvarez refused the money, said he didn't want take it that way. The fighter said, 'Let Baldomir keep it.'"

It was immediately unclear what, if any other sanction, the commission would bring against Baldomir.

It is possible that this will be Baldomir's last fight or his final high profile bout if he loses.

Baldomir weighed 162 pounds Saturday morning and the fight is on.

Michael Marley is the national boxing examiner for examiner.com. To read more stories by Michael Marley, Click Here.