Shields Changes Stance: Tabs Angulo To KO Canelo Late

By Rick Reeno

Veteran trainer Ronnie Shields is among the many who are starting to believe that an upset is brewing for Saturday night, when former WBC/WBA junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-1-1, 30KOs) faces Alfredo Angulo (22-3, 18KOs) in the main event of a Showtime Pay-Per-View from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Shields, who initially picked Canelo to win, now feels Angulo is going to score a knockout victory in the second half of the fight.

Questions have been raised regarding Canelo's stamina. He faded down the stretch of his recent fights with Austin Trout and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

If Angulo is able to withstand the first six rounds without much damage - many believe his power, high volume output and constant pressure is going to give him a strong shot to score a knockout in the second half.

"I was leaning towards Canelo for a long time. Now I'm having second thoughts and thinking about the second half of the fight. I think in the second half of the fight, if Angulo don't get cut up, with his power I think he has a good shot. I think Canelo is going to have his hands full. I think [Angulo is] going to get a knockout, I really do. If anybody can do it, Angulo can do it. I would have to go with Angulo in the second half," Shields told BoxingScene.com.

Shields is the head trainer of undefeated junior middleweight contender Jermall Charlo, who faces IBF champion Carlos Molina on the Canelo-Angulo undercard.