Saul Canelo Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) climbs two weight classes to challenge WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night. The fight starts at approximately 11:50 PM ET and it will be broadcast by DAZN.
Alvarez had a close unanimous decision win over Daniel Jacobs in their middleweight championship unification fight on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, adding Jacobs’ IBF middleweight belt to the WBA and WBC middleweight titles he won from Gennady Golovkin in their second fight on September 15, 2018.
Kovalev is a three-time light heavyweight champion and he is coming off an 11th-round knockout against previously unbeaten British boxer Anthony Yarde, retaining his WBO light heavyweight championship on August 24 in Russia.
Canelo will be fighting above super middleweight for the first time and he wants to join Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Mike McCallum as the only boxers in history with titles at 154 lbs and 175 lbs.
This is what Alvarez said about his mindset ahead of the fight: “I feel good! This is the weight I’m usually at during my normal life so it’s natural for me. I’ve been eating well, lifting more weights because I normally don’t lift weights when I’m losing weight. I’ve been eating how I normally do, of course staying healthy, but adding more rice, protein and carbohydrates. I’m entering his zone of comfort but we’re ready for this. We have the intelligence and skill to beat Kovalev and win the fight. It’s going to be one of the most important fights for me and my career. This title is very important, to be a four-time world champion in different divisions.”
Kovalev also shared his thoughts: “Canelo has nothing to lose in this fight. He has a chance to make history. But I have to defend my title. This is the biggest fight of my career. I’ve never been in this situation, where someone is coming from middleweight. I’m not going to make a prediction, but I am going to go in there and defend my title. I think Canelo will be just as strong at light heavyweight. I think he will weigh the same as me, 175 pounds. He will be heavier than usual, but I think he will be comfortable. When you lose weight for a fight, you lose power and stamina, and he won’t have to do that.”
This will be an intriguing and entertaining fight, Kovalev has the advantage in weight, strength, height and reach but Alvarez is elusive and he should find a way to dominate late and win via unanimous decision.
Picks: Canelo Alvarez by Decision -110 and the fight to go the distance -140
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