By Miguel Rivera
Eddie Reynoso, the trainer of former two-division world champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (47-1-1, 33KOs), said their team has a lot of respect for Liam Smith and they are taking him very seriously
Canelo will challenge Smith for the WBO junior middleweight world title on September 17th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Smith, unbeaten and unknown to American and Mexican fans, is a very big underdog in the contest. Smith captured the vacant title last year and this will be his third defense of the belt.
Canelo returns to the junior middleweight division after a brief sting in the middleweight ranks.
"At this level, Alvarez has to prove his power and must go find the knockout because we want to improve in every fight. Smith is a fighter who is strong and handles things well with a good defense, he's intelligent and has a good left hand," Reynoso said.
"We know that there is no such thing as an easy opponent and Smith is a very strong fighter because to become champion a lot of things are needed and he's managed to do so; which makes him an opponent that we must respect and take seriously.
"In the gym were are working on combinations to the body. I am very proud of Saul because he has improved on defense. In addition, we have practiced feints and he moves very well and we are getting great results in camp.
As far as moving up to the full middleweight limit of 160-pounds, Reynoso says everything will happen in time.
"Saul is young and still a long journey ahead of him in boxing. Of course a move in weight will happen at the right time and when we see it as being appropriate. Everything will be according to what suits our boxer."
