Malignaggi Backs Canelo: Chavez Jr. Has a Name - Not World Class

By Radio Rahim

LONDON - Former world champion and Showtime's expert analyst Paulie Malignaggi is confidently backing Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) to win next week's showdown with countryman Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Their fight takes place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds, on May 6th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For Chavez Jr., it's his most significant fight since facing Sergio Martinez in September 2015. Chavez Jr. was dominated over eleven rounds, but came close to stopping a hurt Martinez in the twelfth and final round.

Chavez Jr. has been criticized for not training  properly or taking his carer seriously in the past.

This time around, with Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain and conditioning coach Angel "Memo" Heredia, the boxer is finally in top form and training like a true professional.

Regardless of that, Malignaggi does not view Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) as being on the same level as Canelo - even with the smaller man coming up from 154-pounds and the bigger man coming down from 168.

“I think Canelo is a different level. I think Chavez is taking it seriously from everything I hear. I think he’ll be ready. I just don’t think he’s good enough. I think he’ll be naturally bigger than Canelo and that’ll be a little bit of an advantage - but I think Canelo is just better than him. It's simple, he just the better fighter," Malignaggi told BoxingScene.com.

Malignaggi expects Chavez Jr. to put in an honest effort and possibly make it a competitive fight, but gives him no shot at walking away as the winner.

"I think he’s training hard and he's motivated - but this isn’t video games. You got to be better. You've got to be good. You’ve got to be good to win," said Malignaggi.

"Chavez is there because he’s Chavez - not because he’s good. He’s Chavez’s son, not because he’s good. I think he’s a good kid. I think if he takes it seriously, he gives himself an honest day’s worth of work, but I don’t think he’s world class. I think he’s lacking in a lot of the fundamentals even, a lot of the skills. I think if he wasn’t Chavez - he wouldn’t be at this level or anywhere near it."

"Having said that, I would not just say 'hate on him.' He’s going to come in there and he’s going to try. He’s going to try his hardest. I just don’t think he’s good enough to win - it’s pretty simple."