By Salvador Rodriguez
Former four divison world champion Juan Manuel Marquez feels Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (43-1-1, 32KOs) has a very tough fight ahead of him as he prepares to face WBA 'regular' junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (19-1-2, 12KOs) on July 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Lara is a fast, well schooled boxer. And Canelo is one fight removed from losing a wide decision to another well schooled boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. last September at the same venue.
"It's a tough, tough fight for [Canelo] because of the style of Lara, but if [Canelo] comes in there with speed, closes Lara's exits and connects with hard punches as he often does, this fight the can end by knockout," said Marquez.
"It's very important, but [Canelo] must always be aware of the [counter-attack] of Lara, a Cuban fighter who hits hard and is accurate, so when he attacks he must do so with a certain amount of caution and he be aware that a response [from Lara] will always be coming. Canelo must fight smart."
"Lara hits hard, uses distance, has speed, but he does not have the punch to knock Canelo out, [and Canelo] does have [to punch to knock Lara out]."
