Teddy Atlas has made his prediction for the fast approaching undisputed super middleweight clash between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Jermell Charlo, and the former trainer believes there could be some controversy in Las Vegas this weekend.
Alvarez and Charlo will do battle at the T-Mobile Arena, with the latter jumping up two full weight divisions for a shot at the Mexican icon.
Speaking on his podcast The Fight, Atlas revealed he was expecting the fight to go the distance, and hinted that there could be yet again more questionable judging in a bout involving ‘Canelo.’
“I think it’ll wind up going to the scorecards. Canelo is a pretty good puncher, could he catch him and knock him out? Yeah, that’s always a possibility.”
“But that aside, I’m going to say it’ll be a tight fight that goes the distance. It could maybe be a fight where Canelo needs his “friends.” Anyone who says he doesn’t have friends in this business, you’re naive.”
“If he needs that protection, he’ll probably get it in a close fight. It’ll go his way. The old timers would say, you have to knock him out to win and hope you don’t get disqualified for knocking him out!”
“I think it’s going to go the distance, I think it’s going to be a split decision.”
There have been several scorecards in Alvarez’ outings that have raised eyebrows, perhaps none more so than Adelaide Byrd’s inexplicable decision to score his 2013 fight against Floyd Mayweather a draw.
Doubts over judging are just many reasons that Charlo is up against it against the Guadalajara favourite on Saturday night, however some observers believe he could have landed his shot at the perfect time.