Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera has weighed in with a prediction for his countryman Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’ fast approaching world title defence against Jermell Charlo.
Undisputed super welterweight king Charlo will move up two weight classes to challenge for Canelo’s undisputed super middleweight crown, the first time such a match up will have taken place in the male four belt era.
And in a recent interview with FightHype, Barrera – who retired a three-weight world champion – stated he feels the jump up in weight will simply prove too great an obstacle to overcome for ‘Iron Man.’
“It’s a good fight, I like it. I think Canelo’s going to win the fight, because Charlo has to come up 14lbs – it’s a lot of weight! But I think it’s going to be a good fight.”
Alvarez had been deep in negotiations to face Jermell’s twin brother, WBC middleweight world champion Jermall, in the first fight of his recently signed three fight deal with Al Haymon’s PBC.
However, the perennially inactive ‘Mall withdrew from the talks late on, and a deal was agreed in double quick time with his brother to take his place and take on Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena on September 30.
Though pound for pound icon Alvarez is understandably a betting favourite, there are some who don’t believe the size different on the night will be too drastic and that Charlo could have landed a shot at the Mexican at the perfect time.
‘Canelo’ is coming off three less than stellar performances against Dimitry Bivol, Gennadiy Golovkin and John Ryder, and there are some in the sport who believe the 33 year old is on the decline.