By James Blears

A huge crowd packed the main plaza of downtown Gualalajara for the weigh in of local favorite Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and rugged Argentinian Luciano Cuello. The fight at the VFG Arena, takes place later tonight for the WBC Super Welterweight Silver Belt. Both brushed the scales lightly at 150 pounds apiece.

Canelo (32-0-1, 24 KO’s) who’ll celebrate his twentieth birthday on July 18th, isn’t underestimating Cuello (26-1, 12 KO’s) who’s only defeat, came in quite a tussle with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Tijuana in March 2009. Canelo who’s carefully studied fight films of his opponent said: “He’s a tough fighter who comes forward and fights from bell to bell in each round.

“Some people say that he apparently he doesn’t hit hard, but look how he left Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s face. This fight with Cuello is going to be very intense, and it could be complicated, but I’ve trained to win. The support of the people is great and it motivates me.”

Canelo says although this fight is at super welter, he wants to win his first full world title as a welterweight.

His Promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, was also mobbed by hoardes of fans, noted that if this is Canelo’s ambition there’ll have to be a hurry up factor as the young man seems to got a couple of inches taller in the last year and he’s rapidly physically maturing. Oscar suggests if Canelo blends guile with his power, plus natural ability, he’ll stop the durable Cuello within nine rounds.

Asked about the X ingredient which burnishes a young prospect into a superstar, Oscar hesitated not one fraction of a second. He replied: “His good looks, his charisma, the fans love him…and the icing on the cake is that he can really fight.”

Irma Guerita Sanchez (17-3-1, 5 KO’s) who’s number one ranked by the WBC in the Womens’ Light flyweight Division, and is from Guadalajara, takes on Soledad Negra Macedo (7-4-1, 3 KO’s). Both were smack on the 108lb weight requirement.