By Brandon Bernica: In boxing, we laud fighters who dare to be great. We relish moments such as when Manny Pacquiao – a former flyweight champion – traded shot-for-shot with the gargantuan and formidable 154-pounder Antonio Margarito. Or who could forget when Oscar De La Hoya leapt to middleweight to challenge titleholder Bernard Hopkins. Though De La Hoya fell victim to a whipping body shot that left him writhing on the ground, the mere idea of confronting a man with such a physical advantage gave fans a newfound respect for the Mexican-American. Even the legendary Roberto Duran lost to Marvin Hagler for the middleweight title, and yet we still hold his career in the figurative rafters of boxing history.
Canelo Alvarez
Santos Saul Álvarez Barragán, better known as Canelo, which translates to ‘cinnamon’ for his fiery red hair, has spiced up the boxing scene since his debut. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1990, this pugilist has clinched world championships across four weight divisions, making him a staple in the Hall of Fame pantry. Canelo unified titles in three divisions and claimed lineal championships in two, notably overpowering Miguel Cotto in 2015 for the WBC, Ring, and lineal middleweight crowns. Outside the ring, Canelo’s life is just as sweet, sharing it with his two kids, Emily Cinnamon Alvarez and Mía Ener Álvarez, and his wife, Fernanda Gómez, since 2021. According to Forbes, Canelo is worth at least $275 million!
Khan: “I will definitely shock the world come May 7th”
By Matt Plumridge: Amir “King” Khan 31-3-0 (19 early) has spoken of his strong belief that he will shock the world against Saul Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 early) in their eagerly anticipated Cinco De Mayo clash on May 7th.
In a conference call alongside his trainer, Virgil Hunter and Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya, it was clear that Khan was happy to give Alvarez his dues and unusually in today’s fight game, talk openly about the tactics that he believes will see him take back home the WBC Middleweight belt and ruin Canelo’s festival.
Canelo’s trainer doubts Khan will be any stronger for the fight
By Dan Ambrose: Chepo Reynoso, the trainer for WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, isn’t too worried about the muscles Amir “King” Khan is putting on in training camp as he gets ready for their May 7 fight next month on HBO pay-per-view at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Reynoso seriously doubts whether Khan’s new muscle growth will equate to him punching harder than he has in the past. Reynoso points out that bodybuilders have a similar look to Khan don’t have strength and power.
30-day weights: Canelo 163.8, Khan 161.2
By Dan Ambrose: WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) recently weighed in for their 30-day weights, and surprisingly there was only a two-pound difference between the two fighters for their fight next month on HBO pay-per-view on May 7.
Canelo weighed in at 163.8 pounds compared to Khan’s 161.2.bs. If this weight stays the way it is, then Canelo will only need to lose 8.8 pounds to make the 155lb limit for their catch-weight fight at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hatton thinks Khan can beat Canelo
By Scott Gilfoid: While most boxing fans believe Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) is up the creek without a paddle in his fight next month against the much heavier, stronger, younger and arguably more talented WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) in their scheduled fight on May 7, former two division world champion Ricky “Hitman” Hatton believes that the 29-year-old Khan has the style to defeat Canelo.
Hatton thinks that if Khan can punch, move, throw combinations and not stand still for any length of time, he could pull off the upset. However, Hatton acknowledges that the 25-year-old Canelo has gotten a lot better since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. three years ago in 2016, and he feels it’s going to be a real hard task for Khan to beat Canelo.
Loeffler: Gilberto Ramirez is Golovkin’s best option if no Canelo
By Dan Ambrose: According to IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler, unbeaten WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (34-0, 24 KOs) is Golovkin’s best option for later this year if they can’t get WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders inside the ring for a unification fight.
Ramirez defeated WBO champion Arthur Abraham last Saturday night in outclassing him by winning a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ramirez vs. Abraham was televised on HBO PPV on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley 3 card.
Roy Jones Jr. thinks Canelo shouldn’t fight Golovkin now
By Dan Ambrose: Boxing great Roy Jones Jr. thinks it makes a lot of sense for WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to take the bigger money fights against guys like Manny Pacquiao than taking a dangerous fight against IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. Jones doesn’t think the fight against Golovkin will bring in $50 million for Canelo like a fight against Pacquiao.
“I couldn’t milk the cow like Mayweather because I didn’t have the patience…same thing except there’s one x-factor…the x-factor for Canelo…I can make this $50 million and then fight Triple G,” said Jones to Fighthype.com.
Khan doing really well in training camp, says Garcia
By Dan Ambrose: Well-known trainer Robert Garcia says a source of his in Amir Khan’s camp is saying that the 29-year-old Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) is doing really well in preparing for his May 7 fight against WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) for their fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Khan is bulking up and adding a lot of muscles to his upper body to help him prepare for the size of the hulking 175lb Canelo. Khan says he expects to be 165lbs on the night when he gets inside the ring with Canelo. If Canelo does have a weight advantage in this fight, then it will only be 10 pounds unless he bulks up to the 180s, which is entirely possible.
Roach wants rehydration limit for Canelo vs. Pacquiao
By Dan Ambrose: While many boxing fans are talking about this Saturday’s fight for Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) being potentially the last of his long 21-year pro career, his trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank have been talking up a storm about a hoped for fight between Pacquiao and Golden Boy Promotions star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs).
Pacquiao is facing Tim Bradley (33-1-1, 13 Kos) this Saturday night on HBO pay-per-view. However, Roach and Arum have been stoking the fires of a big money PPV fight between Pacquiao and Canelo by talking about wanting to make that fight happen. However, Roach took it to another level today in saying that he would push for a rehydration limit for the fight if takes place.
Roach: I think Pacquiao can out-box Canelo
By Dan Ambrose: Trainer Freddie Roach says he thinks Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) will out-box Saul “Canelo” Alvarez if that fight takes place. Roach says that Pacquiao has always done well against bigger fighters, and he thinks that Pacquiao could do the job on Canelo as well with his speed.
It’s unknown at this point if Pacquiao will continue his pro career beyond his fight this Saturday night against Tim Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. If Pacquiao does continue fighting, then Canelo is definitely a possibility for him.