TOP 154LBERS FACE EACH OTHER SATURDAY NIGHT ON SHOWTIME PPV
Las Vegas, NV– Even though Saturdays mega match up on Showtime PPV between Cuban master boxer Erislandy Lara(19-1-2, 12 KOS) and Mexican Star Canelo Alvarez (43-1-30, KOs) isn’t for a alphabet world title, the consensus believes these practitioners to be the two best at 154lbs. The bout has been contracted at a catchweight of 155lbs as Alvarez reportedly struggles to make 154lbs. This is more likely a psychological edge for the Mexican. Lara who has been chasing this fight for the last two years was obviously willing to make any concession to make the bout become a reality.
Saul “Cinnamon” Alvarez
Alvarez was completely outboxed by the smaller yet more gifted Floyd Mayweather last year, and many perceive Lara as a difficult opponent who’s style will create significant problems for the Mexican as did Mayweather.
LARA CAN’T STAND IN FRONT OF ALVAREZ
For the Cuban to cruise his way to victory he must box and move, then box and move some more. The Mexican’s only shot is for Lara to stand still so Canelo can land his volleys. While Mayweather and Lara’s styles differ, it’s clear that Alvarez, a natural counterpuncher, struggles when having to look for openings. It will be interesting to see in this bout who can make the other fighter take the lead. Both are counterpunchers who look for accuracy more than volume. Who delivers the better shot and who can take the better shot? This is the major factor in who will win this fight on Saturday.
CANELO MUST PUNCH WITH LARA
While Lara has a 5 inch reach advantage, Canelo must gamble to win this bout. The Cuban is expected to fight at range, but Canelo needs to bait Lara into throwing punches at a distance where he can counter. That’s the best way for Canelo to be successful. If he gets in a mode where he starts to follow Lara around the ring and gets desperate to land his blows, he will get picked off all night. Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.
BOTH ARE BATTLE TESTED AGAINST SIMILAR FOES
This is a true 50/50 fight that most believe will closely waged. Both have two common opponents, Alfredo Angulo, and Austin Trout. The fights had similar outcomes. Lara stopped Angulo in round 10, only after getting dropped himself twice in the bout. Alvarez faced a faded and somewhat shot version of Angulo months later and completely dominated him and stopped him in the same round. The Cuban faced Trout in his last bout, a one-sided and utterly dominant performance dropping him in round 11 and winning on points. Alvarez beat Trout in a close points verdict last year. One has to admire Canelo for taking this fight. After years of facing sub-par opposition and basically being handed the WBC 154lb title in a vacant title bout against career welterweight Matthew Hatton in 2011, the record of his last four opponents combined is 111-4-2.
WHO WILL GET THE VICTORY
Considering Alvarez took the fight, he must see something he can exploit in Lara. The X factor is that the Mexican doesn’t necessarily possess the style to give Lara too many problems. Alvarez is very economical with his punches, and is extremely effective when he has an opponent who will cooperate. While crafty, it will be interesting to see if Canelo will take a whole lot of chances if he starts to feel the power of Lara’s punches. Against Mayweather, he was reluctant to throw punches, remarkable when you consider his advantages in size and punching power over Floyd. The Mexican is more dynamic with a better array of punches than Lara. However, the view is that the southpaw Lara, if he is capable of keeping the fight at a distance for the majority of the bout his accuracy will come into play. If Alvarez was a fighter who was better at applying pressure for a full three minutes of every round, he would have a better shot at winning. The possible struggle to make weight, the lack of foot speed and average stamina will hamper the Mexican in this fight. Both guys will have their moments, but Lara should win a close 12 round decision.
-Kevin Perry