Comments Thread For: Lemieux: Don't Underestimate Chavez; Tough Fight for Canelo

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

As much as David Lemieux wants to fight Canelo Alvarez later this year, he is certain Alvarez isn't in for an easy night May 6. Alvarez is an 8-1 favorite as his Mexican showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. draws near, but Lemieux views Chavez as a very live underdog. The 6-feet-1 Chavez stands about four inches taller than Alvarez and figures to have a significant weight advantage once they enter the ring for their 12-round fight next month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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[-Kev-]

The more I think about it, the less of a chance I give Chavez Jr.

At first my thoughts were that Chavez Jr is too big, tall, and vs a JMW-MW he will hit hard like he did to Martinez although his rally fell short, and Lee (TKO). So I gave him a chance vs Canelo.

But then I think about it, guy walks around maybe 190+, and pretty much has to train hard to come down to 164.5, which is an absurd catchweight, why the .5? Why not 165lbs? Anyway, Chavez Jr is just weight training, there's nothing Nacho can do boxing-wise with such a big fighter who's trying to come down so much in weight. Weight is in the front and back of their minds at all times, how much time does JCC Jr realistically have to actually come up with a really good boxing gameplan? How much is he focusing? Not much I think. It's gonna be a flat Chavez Jr getting outboxed by an agile Canelo who's training camp consisted of chilling and working out normall and thinking of ways to outbox Chavez Jr and will have little work to make 164.5.

[OctoberRed]

Im also shocked at how many people are overlooking Chavez on this one.

[Robi13]

The more I think about it, the less of a chance I give Chavez Jr.

At first my thoughts were that Chavez Jr is too big, tall, and vs a JMW-MW he will hit hard like he did to Martinez although his rally fell short, and Lee (TKO). So I gave him a chance vs Canelo.

But then I think about it, guy walks around maybe 190+, and pretty much has to train hard to come down to 164.5, which is an absurd catchweight, why the .5? Why not 165lbs? Anyway, Chavez Jr is just weight training, there's nothing Nacho can do boxing-wise with such a big fighter who's trying to come down so much in weight. Weight is in the front and back of their minds at all times, how much time does JCC Jr realistically have to actually come up with a really good boxing gameplan? How much is he focusing? Not much I think. It's gonna be a flat Chavez Jr getting outboxed by an agile Canelo who's training camp consisted of chilling and working out normall and thinking of ways to outbox Chavez Jr and will have little work to make 164.5.

good analysis, I'd like to add, even if chavez jr had time to work on fight plan, he is still not as skilled as Canelo. This will be a boxing lesson for as long as it's like lasts. Canelo Ud or stoppage

[Butch.McRae]

The more I think about it, the less of a chance I give Chavez Jr.

At first my thoughts were that Chavez Jr is too big, tall, and vs a JMW-MW he will hit hard like he did to Martinez although his rally fell short, and Lee (TKO). So I gave him a chance vs Canelo.

But then I think about it, guy walks around maybe 190+, and pretty much has to train hard to come down to 164.5, which is an absurd catchweight, why the .5? Why not 165lbs? Anyway, Chavez Jr is just weight training, there's nothing Nacho can do boxing-wise with such a big fighter who's trying to come down so much in weight. Weight is in the front and back of their minds at all times, how much time does JCC Jr realistically have to actually come up with a really good boxing gameplan? How much is he focusing? Not much I think. It's gonna be a flat Chavez Jr getting outboxed by an agile Canelo who's training camp consisted of chilling and working out normall and thinking of ways to outbox Chavez Jr and will have little work to make 164.5.

I watched the coverage on ESPN Deportes of the camps. Jr wearing the garbage bags made me cringe. They're basically killing him to lose that weight. Idk how you can prepare to compete at a high level w/ that type of cutting going on.

After seeing that, I give Jr zero chance in this fight.

[-Kev-]

Im also shocked at how many people are overlooking Chavez on this one.

I think people are just concerned with the weight. I guarantee the odds would be a lot different, and the predictions for Chavez Jr would be higher if the fight was at 166-168lbs. It's just pretty much the weight, people think Chavez Jr will be dead, flat and ineffective. When people see fights like Jones-Tarver I, DLH-Pac, Ward-Dawson, they're reminded how serious weight can be in boxing. This will be another case like those.

[-Kev-]

good analysis, I'd like to add, even if chavez jr had time to work on fight plan, he is still not as skilled as Canelo. This will be a boxing lesson for as long as it's like lasts. Canelo Ud or stoppage

Maybe you are right, but you know we've seen so many times where size actually overcame the more skillful fighter. For example I thought the difference in Cotto-Margarito I was Margarito's size and stamina - in hindsight it was also the loaded gloves but loaded gloves don't give you stamina, size and a chin like that -, but Cotto had the better skills.

I watched the coverage on ESPN Deportes of the camps. Jr wearing the garbage bags made me cringe. They're basically killing him to lose that weight. Idk how you can prepare to compete at a high level w/ that type of cutting going on.

After seeing that, I give Jr zero chance in this fight.

They're pretty much just exercising. This training camp is nothing but a glorified work out for a big chubby boy to get down to a certain weight. Weight Watchers. The fight is already won in the gym, training. Chavez Jr getting in the ring will just be where he officially earns his check.

Can I be wrong and Chavez Jr comes to fight and push Canelo to his limits, and maybe even win? Yeah, and that would obviously be the best thing that can happen for boxing after Jacobs came to win against GGG, and now if Chavez Jr comes to win vs Canelo both Canelo and GGG will have been pushed and will maybe want to fight each other ASAP after feeling more vulnerable.

[Johnny_Roa]

Canelo UD, but i'm rooting for Chavez to knock Cuntnela

[CowboyJ]

I think the catch weight will hurt Chavez Jr in the long run.. Not surprising, coming from Canelo's camp, that they would try to ensure that he has all of the advantages in his favor.. Canelo knows that it is a different fight at 168.. The weight loss will be too much for Chavez and he will possibly be stopped even though he has trained tremendously.. Losing that much weight and expecting to put up your best performance is insane..

[hitking]

The more I think about it, the less of a chance I give Chavez Jr.

At first my thoughts were that Chavez Jr is too big, tall, and vs a JMW-MW he will hit hard like he did to Martinez although his rally fell short, and Lee (TKO). So I gave him a chance vs Canelo.

But then I think about it, guy walks around maybe 190+, and pretty much has to train hard to come down to 164.5, which is an absurd catchweight, why the .5? Why not 165lbs? Anyway, Chavez Jr is just weight training, there's nothing Nacho can do boxing-wise with such a big fighter who's trying to come down so much in weight. Weight is in the front and back of their minds at all times, how much time does JCC Jr realistically have to actually come up with a really good boxing gameplan? How much is he focusing? Not much I think. It's gonna be a flat Chavez Jr getting outboxed by an agile Canelo who's training camp consisted of chilling and working out normall and thinking of ways to outbox Chavez Jr and will have little work to make 164.5.

I actually think the catchweight helps Jr. This guy was making 160 four years ago, and winning and competing at a good level while doing it. He's no more than a natural super middleweight right now. He's gonna be forced not to cut any corners in training in order to make weight. And he's shown an ability in his middleweight days to cut a lot of weight in training. And then weigh in, rehydrate, and perform well. Whatever Jr is, whether it be championship level guy, B level guy, or journeyman club fighting bum. I think Canelo is gonna get the best version of it.