By Rafael Soto
Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) is training like never before for the upcoming HBO Pay-Per-View fight with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs).
The big showdown is scheduled for May 6th, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Chavez Jr. is squeezing down to a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds, while Canelo is moving up from the junior middleweight limit of 154-pounds.
Chavez Jr. wants to get a knockout victory to avoid the possibility of getting a controversial decision, but says he is fully ready to go the twelve round distance.
"I'm focused on getting the right conditioning to withstand the entire twelve rounds with throwing punches in a non-stop manner while not tiring... I think it will be one of the keys to winning the fight, it will be important to enter the ring in good condition, in rhythm, not out of distance, and have speed like when I fought with (Peter) Manfredo.. to fight at the same level as [Canelo]," said Chavez, confident in his ability to get the victory in Las Vegas.
On the subject of Canelo and their war of words during the five city promotional tour, Chavez Jr. was very precise with his words.
"He is a sportsman, he looks strong from what I have seen - but when he faces opponents there is always something in his favor. He is a good puncher, he's difficult, and because of that we're taking things seriously - but I do not think he's a great champion like others that have come from Mexico," said Chavez Jr.
"He wants me to tell him that he's like Salvador Sánchez, Juan Manuel Marquez, Julio Cesar Chavez... but I can't tell him that. And if he is angry about that, then I apologize."
Regarding his work with Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain:
"What he has done is corrected my mistakes, habits that I brought from the past, for me to keep my hands up more, details that he sees. I only listen to him and try to learn, imagine the experience he has. I'm motivated by this fight, I will not waste this opportunity," Chavez Jr. concluded.
