By Edward Chaykovsky

Joe Gallagher, regarded as one of the best trainers in the UK, says Amir Khan (31-3, 19KOs) has the style and the skills to upset WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (46-1-1, 32KOs) on May 7th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. 

Khan will head up, by eight pounds to a catch-weight of 155. Canelo has weighed in at 155 for his last four fights and seems to be very comfortable at the weight. 

The contracted catch-weight is not the biggest concern in the fight. More observers are concerned with Canelo's ability to pack on a lot of weight in the 24 hours that follow the pre-fight weighin. Canelo often comes in at 170-plus on fight night.

Khan was unable to secure big fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao in the last twelve months. Canelo is the boxer who most expect to take over as the top superstar in the sport.

Gallagher  told The Bolton News: "It’s a great fight and I am so pleased for Amir to get it. I have seen him here in the gym and the disappointment of not getting Mayweather. Then he thought he had Pacquiao before Christmas and then got messed about. I felt sorry for him. To get Canelo is great for him."

"We had been in negotiations for [WBO 154-pound champion] Liam Smith to fight [Canelo] so while I am disappointed for Liam, I am pleased for Amir. He really needed that big fight and he’s got it. He is no longer the bridesmaid, he’s the bride and can go in and show what he can do."

Gallagher has heard that talk and he's read the press clippings. Khan is a massive underdog in the bout. The veteran trainer is not that quick to write off Amir and believes the Bolton fighter has a good shot at pulling off the upset win if he sticks to his game plan and follows the corner instructions of head trainer Virgil Hunter.

"People are quick to write him off but it is all about styles. Amir has a style to do well, particularly early on in the fight. The second half is crucial but under Virgil there is a maturity coming through in Amir’s work. He listens and sticks to a game-plan and Virgil has been excellent in bringing that out in Amir," Gallagher said.

"Let’s not forget Alvarez isn’t this huge monster people are making him out to be. He went the distance with Matthew Hatton and only beat Ryan Rhodes late on. He is a good fighter and has improved but he is not a Golovkin of the world."