Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1) will defend his WBC middleweight (72.5kg) title against Britain’s Amir “King” Khan (31-3) in Las Vegas this weekend. It will be 25-year-old Alvarez’s first defence of the world title he won via unanimous decision over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto (40-4) in Las Vegas in November last year.
Amazingly, Alvarez turned professional at just 15 years of age. Nicknamed Canelo (which in Spanish means cinnamon) because of his red hair, the only loss in his stellar career to date was against Floyd Mayweather in 2013 via a unanimous points decision. Mayweather ended his career undefeated in 2015 with a career record of 49-0.
In addition to his win over Cotto, the other major victory in Alvarez’s career so far was a unanimous points decision over American legend Shane Mosley (46-7-1) in 2012. 32 of his 46 career victories (69%) have been by knockout.
While bookmakers have Alvarez as the heavy favourite, many believe that the 29-year-old Khan’s hand speed will test the tough Mexican. He is, however, stepping up in weight to take this fight.
Khan is a former IBF and WBA light-welterweight champion. As a 17-year-old amateur, he won a silver medal for Great Britain in the lightweight division at the Athens Olympics. He has a technical decision over Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera (65-6) in 2009 as one of his major career victories. 19 of his 31 career wins (61%) have been by knockout.
The three losses in Khan’s career have been to Colombia’s Breidis Prescott (19-0) by knockout in 2009, America’s Lamont Peterson (29-1-1) by split decision in 2011, and America’s Danny Garcia (23-0) by technical knockout in 2012.
Alvarez has the advantage of size and power, Khan will be relying on speed and boxing skill. However, only Miguel Cotto and American Oscar De La Hoya (39-6) have won world titles at both light-welterweight and middleweight, as Khan is attempting to do.
Regardless of the outcome, there is a lot of global interest in this fight and it will be a big pay day for both boxers.
Who do you think will win?
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Let's hope it's an entertaining fight either way Max. An Alvarez/GGG unification bout if/when Canelo gets through this one would be a cracker.
Max
Guest
I really want to see an upset. It would throw the entire middleweight division on its head with a natural welterweight as one of it's champions. That being said, I'd say Canelo by unanimous decision or even a late stoppage. That sets up a nice GGG and Canelo unification bout.
Petar Alavanja
Roar Pro
I agree, Khan will go down midway through the fight I don't see him getting past the 9th at the latest
The Wolf
Guest
Canelo by ko. Khan will give him problems for the first few rounds due to speed but eventually canelo will catch him somewhere around the midway point
Chris
Guest
I don't think Khan will be able to handle Canelo's power. Canelo by KO inside 6
Dwayne
Guest
I don't know why people are so quick to write Khan off, I think he will be way too fast for Canelo and will win by UD.
Dyl murph
Guest
I believe that Canelo will be too strong and and powerful for khan. Khan will take the opening 4 rounds and be up on points as he is the much more skilled and quicker boxer but Heading in to the middle rounds I think we will see how the extra 2lb will affect his speed. By the 8/9th round I predict that khan will get caught with one of canelos looping uppercuts whilst on the ropes and will be out cold. Reason for this is we have seen on multiple occasions the poor conditioning of khans chin.