Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez makes a swift return to action, just four months after his last contest, and he faces a challenge for his undisputed world super middleweight titles against reigning undisputed super welterweight champion, Jermell Charlo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday night.
DAZN televise Canelo vs Charlo live in the UK, whilst the fight is broadcast on SHOWTIME pay-per-view in the USA.
Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) is at somewhat of a crossroads in his career. After the Mexican lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2013, he then dominated through multiple weight classes, picking up plenty of gold along the way.
A move all the way to cruiserweight was mooted, but the 33-year-old settled for defending his light heavyweight title against Dmitry Bivol last May, and he came unstuck against the excellent Russian, who took a deserved points win.
Canelo would drop back down to super middleweight, where he had become undisputed ruler after an eleventh round stoppage of Caleb Plant in November 2021, and took a clear points win in a trilogy fight with Gennady Golovkin, before returning to his homeland last time out, routing the brave John Ryder on the scorecards.
His latest test comes in the form of Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs). ‘Iron Man’ slowly but surely cleaned out the 154 pound division after dropping a decision against Tony Harrison in 2018.
The Texan would avenge that defeat, and add the WBA ‘super’ and IBF belts to his WBC crown with an eighth round knockout of Jeison Rosario in September 2020.
A draw with Brian Castano delayed him claiming all four belts, but he rectified that in a rematch in May last year, knocking the Argentine out in ten.
View this post on Instagram
Injury and a shelved contest with Tim Tszyu has delayed the 33-year-old, who has now taken the ultimate challenge.
Prediction: Alvarez isn’t quite finished yet, although there aren’t many more feats to achieve. He should still have enough for Charlo here, and as the bigger man, can score a late stoppage.
Ugas battles Barrios
An interesting trade fight takes place on the undercard. The interim WBC welterweight title is on the line, as Mario Barrios takes on Yordenis Ugas. Both men are former WBA champions.
Ugas (27-5, 12 KOs) scored a career-best win in August 2021, when he outpointed the legendary Manny Pacquiao to take the WBA ‘Super’ title, but dropped it in his next defence, soundly beaten by Errol Spence Jr via tenth round stoppage last April.
Barrios (27-2, 18 KOs) won the ‘Regular’ version of the WBA strap in 2019, and defended once before being spirited in an 11th round defeat to Gervonta Davis in June 2021.
The 28-year-old would then take Keith Thurman the twelve round distance, but lose clearly on the cards. The Texan returned in February, taking the WBC Continental Americas belt with an eighth round stoppage of Jovanie Santiago.
Prediction: Barrios can come through on the cards.
Ramos clashes with Lubin
American talent Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr (20-0, 16 KOs) aims to muscle his way into the 154 pound world title argument, and he goes twelve for the first time here, where he will likely need the distance to see off former world title challenger, Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
Oleksandr Gvozdyk (19-1, 15 KOs) continues his comeback, and in his third contest since a stoppage defeat to Artur Beterbiev in 2019, he can stop Isaac Rodrigues (28-4, 22 KOs) before the end of their ten rounder at light heavyweight.
Also in ten rounders, Frank Sanchez (22-0, 15 KOs) can keep his WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title by knocking out Scott Alexander (17-5-2, 9 KOs), and Elijah Garcia (15-0, 12 KOs) can remain unbeaten by taking a points win at middleweight against Jose Armando Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs).
View this post on Instagram
In eight round action, Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (27-3-1, 16 KOs) is coming off a win over Steve Spark, and he can outscore Yeis Gabriel Solano (15-2, 10 KOs) at super lightweight and former world title challenger, Terrell Gausha (23-3-1, 12 KOs) should stop KeAndre Leatherwood (23-8-1, 13 KOs) in their middleweight meeting.
Bek Nurmaganbet (10-0, 8 KOs) should halt Abimbola Osundairo (5-0, 3 KOs) at super middleweight, and Abilkhan Amankul (4-0, 4 KOs) can do the same against Joeshon James (7-0-1, 4 KOs) at middleweight.
Super featherweight prospect, Justin Viloria (3-0, 3 KOs) should pick up an early win against Angel Barrera (4-2), and debutant Curmel Moton can win on the cards against Ezequiel Flores (4-0, 3 KOs), also at super featherweight.
