By Phil D. Jay

Unlikely hero Josesito Lopez will face his toughest challenge to date on Saturday night and is already planning another shock following on from his ‘Rocky moment’ against Victor Ortiz at the Staples Center in June.

The 28 year-old broke the former world champion’s jaw in two places when highly unfancied in the contest and now fights in his maiden WBC title test against formidable Mexican superstar and 154lb belt holder Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

Former light-welterweight Lopez is now attempting to bulk-up sufficiently from 140lbs to the light-middleweight limit in just twelve months and has been putting in the hours in training to get himself in peak physical condition for the MGM Grand contest.

“It's been a great camp. We all worked hard and I'm living my dream,” Lopez told World Boxing News.

Lopez was then asked if he was beginning to tire of the Rocky tag he has been given since the Ortiz bout and answered: "Tired of the Rocky tag?  No way. I love it. I'm a big fan of the Rocky movies. How many are there, 20 or 25?” he joked.

“Seriously, 'The Rocky Moment' that was written about my big win over Victor Ortiz in June worked in my favour and I'm planning to pull the big upset again with Canelo on September 15th.

“I expect a wild fight. The fans will love it as we are both warriors,” he continued.

“I'm an intelligent fighter and so is Canelo, but when the action gets hot, we both battle.”

Not many have given Lopez any hope of producing an upset over 41-fight unbeaten Alvarez, but the Californian is confident that he can be victorious in Las Vegas and put his name up with the best in the world.

“My victory over Canelo will lead to the stars,” said Lopez. “I'll be the elite fighter everyone is talking about and the guy that broke superstar Canelo's undefeated record.”

Win or lose at the weekend, there is already talk of a possible rematch with Ortiz after the two shared eight entertaining rounds until the ‘Vicious’ could no longer stand the pain of the twin breaks in the jawbone.

“If that's what the fans, the promoters and the networks want, why not?  I've watched the tape and it was a great fight!”

Phil D. Jay covers boxing for worldboxingnews.net