Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez enters the third defense of his super-middleweight title, this time against another four-belt champion in Jermall Charlo.
The Sin City scrap marks the first time Charlo has stepped above 154lbs, and he jumps not one but two divisions for the challenge.
He will enter the ring the taller and ranger fighter with the world of confidence, but, in the eyes of many, it won’t be enough to compete with a natural super-middleweight that possesses some of the most eye-catching and impressive talent boxing has seen in the last decade.
Bob Arum is a firm believer in that school of thought.
The veteran promoter sees no route to a win for Charlo, and predicts an easy night for the Mexican champ.
Speaking to Little Giant Boxing, Arum said:
Canelo will beat him [Charlo] easy. Little Charlo, no chance. Canelo will probably knock him out in sixth or seventh round.
Despite being the firm favourite, Canelo also enters the ring with something to prove.
Following a second career loss to Dmitry Bivol up a light- heavyweight, the 33-year-old fought to decisions over both Gennady Golovkin and John Ryder. Whilst wins, many felt that Canelo, at an earlier stage of his career, would have scored the stoppage in each fight.
His chance to do that comes on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. US fans can tune in via Showtime PPV, and those in the UK can access the fight via a regular DAZN subscription in the early hours of Sunday morning.