Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. To Critics: I Have The Tools To Beat Canelo!

By Miguel Rivera

Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) is confident that he possesses all of the right tools to defeat Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs).

The fight is scheduled to take place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds, on May 6th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Chavez Jr. is being listed as a big underdog coming into this fight. Canelo, who holds the WBO junior middleweight world title, is practically moving up by two weight divisions. Chavez, who is physically the much bigger man, is shaving down from the super middleweight limit of 168.

Chavez realizes that his past issues with training and making weight has cast a large shadow of doubt with the critics.

In responding to the critics who view Canelo as the big favorite - Chavez stated - "I have all of the tools to beat him."

Now with Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain in his corner, Chavez believes that he has the necessary motivation and drive to pull off the upset.

"I have to work on speed, endurance and above everything I do not have to fight with the weight. I will take advantage of my natural abilities on [Canelo," Chavez told ESPN Deportes.

"I am taller, I have fought at a higher weight than he has and I have had more wars than he has. Maybe it's the opponent that's going to be the difference."

Chavez said that he would arrive in Mexico City on February 16 to work with Beristáin.

"My dad tells me that I have to be physically and mentally well prepared. He has confidence in Beristáin, the strategy we are going to do - where we will work hard not to fight with the weight, to be one hundred percent in physical condition - and that is going to be fundamental for the fight," Chavez said.

Chavez has received criticism in the past from Beristain, but the Mexican star claims that he's ready for a strong person in his corner, and says he has always had a good relationship with the coach.

"He has rightly criticized me because I've done things wrong and a coach with a lot of experience does not like someone who has ability, but is doing everything wrong. He gives me courage as he gave my father courage. I will put everything together," said Chavez.