By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) has made it clear that he will not blame weight - if he suffers defeat on Saturday night when he steps in the ring with country rival Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs).
The two fighters are scheduled to collide on May 6 at the T-Mobile Arena. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
There is a catch-weight in place of 164.5-pounds. Chavez Jr. is coming down from the super middleweight limit of 168, while Canelo is coming up from 154-pounds. Canelo has never fought beyond the catch-weight of 155, while Chavez Jr. has fought as high as 172.
The issue of weight has played a major role in the storyline of the fight.
Chavez Jr., who struggled with weight in the past, has not weighed any lower than a shade below the super middleweight limit since September of 2012.
Chavez Jr. holds a big size advantage, but Canelo does not want weight to be used as an excuse any anyone. If Chavez Jr. wins, Canelo will gladly embrace him as the better man.
"Look, I want to make it clear that it's not about the weight or who has the advantage [with the weight] - with one going up and one going down. If he beats me, it's because he's a better fighter and I'll accept that. I feel very good at this weight, I've sacrificed in the past when I've made weight. This is not about weight," Canelo said.
"I'm not even thinking about a loss, I'm not even thinking about defeat. But you have to understand that in boxing you win some and you lose some. If he wins, I've said it before - it's because he's a better fighter than me. But im not concentrating or even thinking about a loss."
