De La Hoya: Catch-Weight is Huge Advantage For Canelo

By Steve Kim

While this weekend's big bout between Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez is being contested for the WBC middleweight title, at the insistence of Cotto - the defending champion - there is a catch-weight of 155-pounds being instituted for this fight.

Which is just fine according to Oscar De La Hoya, who's company Golden Boy Promotions, handles the 25-year old Mexican.

"I think it's a huge advantage for 'Canelo' because 'Canelo' can still make 154 easily with no problem. I've seen him do it. He's a big kid but he can make the weight easily. I think the fact it's at 155, he's going to be lighter on his feet, he's going to be faster with his punches, he's going to throw more combinations.One thing 'Canelo', he hasn't grown into his body yet, his man-strength,"said De La Hoya, while appearing on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' podcast with Mario Lopez on Monday morning.

Over the weekend, Alvarez weighed in at just a fraction over 160-pounds.

"He's perfect right now at 160, that's five pounds to go," stated De La Hoya. "It's perfect, it's water weight, he's still eating healthy, he's eating big portions, which is great. So fight week you start cutting down, you start cutting down the carbs little by little, start eating more protein, shed the weight a little.So right now he's on perfect weight."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com