Canelo: Rivalry is Legit, Chavez Jr. Said A lot of Things About Me

Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will square off on May 6 in one of the biggest fights in Mexican boxing history. Golden Boy Promotions and both boxers met with the press in Mexico City on Monday to start the promotional tour. Photo by Hoganphotos.

Mexico's two most popular boxers will meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo -- a traditional weekend for major fights involving that country's boxers.

Alvarez, the former middleweight world champion, and Chavez, who also once held a world title at 160 pounds, will meet at a catch weight of 164.5 pounds.

Alvarez has never fought heavier than 155 pounds which is the weight at which he demanded opponents fight at when he held the middleweight title. Since 2013, Chavez's last five fights have been at 167.5 or heavier.

Alvarez drew an AT&T Stadium-record boxing crowd of 51,240 for his last fight, in September, when he knocked out Liam Smith in the ninth round to win a junior middleweight world title.

"It's a new weight, so I have started to spar with heavier partners, which everyone will notice come fight night. Fights between Mexicans are usually the biggest, and I want this fight to be a mark on the legacy that many fights like this have left behind in Mexico's fight history," Canelo said.
 
"I think that a rivalry does exist, and we are both polemic fighters. There have been a lot of comments directed towards me and my character, and I fight for pride to represent my country.
 
"We are of course are training at 100 percent. I think what makes this fight interesting is that we are both heavy punchers. I've been in my fair share of mega-fights, and the boxing ring is my home. I have had the same people in my corner since the very beginning, and I trust Chepo and Eddy to fully support me in my corner."