By Miguel Rivera
According to Eddy Reynoso, trainer of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs), the Mexican star is doing very well in his current sparring sessions with boxers who are much bigger than him.
Canelo is preparing for his Cinco De Mayo showdown with countryman Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. - taking place on May 6th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The fight takes place at the highest weight of Canelo's career, a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds. Canelo's last fight, in September, took place at the junior middleweight limit of 154-pounds.
Canelo currently weighs 174 pounds with two months to go before his fight against Chavez Jr. takes place. Chavez, who last fought at 168, reportedly weighs around 180 at the moment.
Reynoso commented that Canelo has been working great, weighing between 174 and 172 pounds, and sparring with boxers who are as big as 180 pounds to replicate the size advantage that Chavez Jr. will have in the fight.
"Saul has generally been characterized by his ability to show progress in every fight. He has been showing better things and I think we will see a Saul who is very different because the preparation has been different. We have been working for the first time in a long time without the worry of weight, And will arrive with a great preparation," said Reynoso to ESPN Deportes.
"Canelo is walking around at 174-172 pounds, and at that weight he is is comfortable. We are working very well. It's been a very good start with the preparation. In our last few fights, we were having a hard time getting to weight. We are really in a great preparation and [Canelo is] giving his best."
"We started sparring with boxers who are similar to the physical conditions of [Chavez] Junior. They have been very good sparring partners and next Monday we will be joined by two others. We have worked with strong, tall [sparring partners]. We have worked very hard and [the sparring sessions have] been so good that sometimes we thought that he was actually fighting."