By Miguel Rivera
Former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez is giving the clear edge to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) to defeat his countryman Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (49-2-1, 32 KOs), when the two Mexican superstars collide on May 6th as part of Cinco De Mayo weekend.
The two boxers reached an agreement last Friday to battle it out on HBO Pay-Per-View, and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas or AT&T Stadium in Texas will play host.
The fight will take place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds. Canelo will come up from 154-pounds, where he holds the WBO junior middleweight title. And Chavez Jr. will come down from the super middleweight limit of 168-pounds. According to Chavez, there is a contract clause that will cost him a $1 million for every pound that he's over.
Marquez recently discussed that he believes Chavez Jr. will have a difficult time making the weight limit, but if he's able to make the weight safely then Marquez expects a very competitive fight.
"It 's a tactical fight in which a very good pace will be imposed in the fight and I think that pace is in favor of Canelo Alvarez... when it comes to speed, to boxing. But as you commented - if Junior prepares as he should... working on his long legs, doing a lot of work on speed - it will then be a very competitive fight," Marquez told Sportscenter.
"If we are going to see which of these fighters has the best boxing conditions - I think it will be on the side of Canelo.... speed, technique, waist movement, counter-punching and he has handled himself quite well in his previous fights. I think he can win that fight. Speaking as a fighter, I think the fight is more in favor of Canelo Alvarez.. the speed, technique and he works harder with his legs. Julio Cesar Chavez is more of a come forward fighter, who likes to exchange punches."
