Canelo's Coach: Chavez Fight Will Be More Even Than People Think

By Miguel Rivera

Eddy Reynoso, trainer of WBO junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs), says the upcoming fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will be closer than people think.

Chavez Jr. has already been tagged as a big underdog and many are predicting a one-sided victory in favor of Canelo.

Canelo, who is moving up to a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds for the bout, is not paying any attention to the critics and won't make the mistake of underestimating Chavez Jr. on May 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Last week, Chavez Jr. - who is dropping down in weight from the super middleweight limit of 168 - retained the services of Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain.

Reynoso says a lot of critics are making a big mistake by overlooking Chavez Jr. and what he brings to the table.

"Always, when you do a fight like this, you always get one (of the boxers) being labeled as the big favorite, but as you get closer (to the fight) the odds get closer," said Reynoso to A Los Golpes.

"We do not overlook anything. To face a Mexican is very difficult. He's tall, big, strong, he can punch, has great reach and also has the great support of his father. It's going to be a more even fight than many people think.

"The truth, I saw the fight being made as a very distant thing. In November we had a meeting with Oscar (De la Hoya), with Eric (Gómez), and we were really interested in the fight. It's a tough fight, Julio has a lot of qualities. We're going to fight in a division where we've never fought, but that's the big fight. It's a good thing for Mexico and Mexican boxing, with two young men from Mexico facing each other."

"(Canelo and Chavez Jr.) are boys who have made their career because they have worked to get there.... and to face someone like Don Nacho Beristáin ... tomorrow I would like to be like him. Today we have to face each other, but tomorrow or the day after - I hope that they will compare me to Ignacio Beristáin."