By Ponciano “John” Melo Jr.
CALIFORNIA, USA — Jumping weight classes is no easy feat, skip two and you’re playing with fire.
Do it with a belt at stake and a chance to become a four-division world champ, then you’re really pushing the envelope. Then again, why not?
Especially if you’re Canelo Alvarez.
In his quest for a fourth world title in as many divisions, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will be going up against Sergey Kovalev on November 2 at the MGM Grand Arena for the World Boxing Organization light heavyweight belt. And he’s looking to win it in the most convincing way possible.
For history, for legacy.
“For me, my legacy is very important. History is the only thing that’s going to remain in boxing,” said the Mexican boxing superstar in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
For him, finding the motivation to fight a much bigger, more experienced, and an already natural light heavyweight, is no biggie.
In fact, this is exactly what fuels him in the build-up to their fight in a few week’s time.
“It’s one of the most motivating fights thus far in my career. Kovalev is very experienced and he’s the strongest fighter I will face. He’s had a good, long career. He’s going to use his height and range to try to beat me,” said Canelo who has fought in the middleweight division since time immemorial.
He’s now in overdrive mode for the fight and now is focused in his camp in Sorrento Mesa which he has been training in since 2014.
Moving up two weight classes, Canelo (52-1-2, 35 KOs), has to put on an extra 15 pounds in his challenge for the belt, a couple of pounds heavier than when he lorded over Daniel Jacobs in a unanimous decision win in back May.
Canelo, 29, might see this as the only hard part of the job, as he is bulking up to make up in areas he’ll definitely be lacking against Kovalev (34-3-1,28 KOs) who has a four-inch height and two-inch reach advantage against the Mexican.
“I’ve been eating well, lifting more weights because I normally don’t lift weights when I’m losing weight,” said Alvarez. “I’ve been eating how I normally do, of course staying healthy, but adding more rice, protein, and carbohydrates. I’m entering this zone of comfort, but we’re ready for this.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to stay at that weight because it’s a lot,” said Alvarez. “But then again, we don’t know. We’re going to see in the fight how my body reacts,” he added.