By Edward Chaykovsky
British star Amir Khan (31-3, 19KOs) feels added motivation from being an underdog for the first time in his career.
Khan will jump up by eight pounds to 155, when he challenges Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (46-1-1, 32KOs) for the WBC middleweight championship in an HBO Pay-Per-View main event on May 7th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Khan has been the betting favorite in all of his past fights. He won't be the favorite on Cinco De Mayo weekend. Khan is widely viewed as a huge underdog against a fighter who usually rehydrates to over 170-pounds on fight night. Khan, who moved up to welterweight in 2014, has never fought beyond his division.
Canelo is expected to overpower Khan as the fight plays out. Khan brushes off the idea that he's going to be a physically weak fighter in that ring. He feels the added poundage will give him additional power, strength and stamina. Khan is the taller fighter, but Canelo is a lot wider with a very thick frame.
“I’ve fought for world titles and always been the favourite to win,” Khan told Kick Off. “This is the first time I’m going into a fight being the underdog and I think it gives me the extra drive, that extra push."
“I’m doing this for the UK fans, my fan base around the world who want to see me in big and hard fights. I want to give that excitement to them and people don’t know what to expect because they think I’m going to come into the fight weak. But I don’t think I’ll come into the fight weak, I’ll be very smart. I’ll be nice and strong at this weight and the game plan they’ll give me, I’ll stick to that and that is what’s going to get me through this fight.”
