By Miguel Rivera
Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has slammed his countryman, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, for finalizing a May 7th title defense against Amir Khan.
The fight will headline the first boxing event at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The catch-weight in the contest is causing a lot of controversy. It takes place at catch-weight of 155-pounds and Khan is moving up, by eight pounds, from the welterweight limit of 147.
Canelo captured the world title last November with a twelve round decision victory over Miuel Cotto. Khan has been inactive since a decision win over Chris Algieri last May. He will enter the ring with nearly a year of inactivity.
Chavez and Canelo have taken shots at each other in past.
Chavez has had weight issues of his own. While he would make the limit of 160-pounds when he fought there, he often rehydrated by at least 20 pounds on the day of the fight. Canelo also rehydrates quite high and might be 20 pounds heavier as well on fight night, which concerns some insiders that a significant size advantage will make it a one-sided contest.
Chavez obviously has the same idea in mind. He feels Khan is not even a true welterweight and says Canelo will be way too big.
"With all due respect, Canelo's fight is an embarrassment to the middleweight division," Chavez Jr. stated. "A 140 [pounder] fighting at that weight [of 155]. It dishonors boxing. We all know who wins. That [fight] should not be allowed. The next fight for Chavez Jr. will be against Chris Algieri [the boxer joked]."