Amir Khan may be facing tall odds but De La Hoya singles out a similar situation when he faced Manny Pacquiao back in 2008.
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Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, highlighted a desire among Mexicans to gain revenge following Khan’s victory over the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera in 2009.
Alvarez is now mandated by the WBC to fight unbeaten two-belt champ Gennady Golovkin, who was at ringside Saturday.
It is a fight that could end Khan’s career or push him to a level he cannot have imagined was within his grasp when he was fighting a couple of divisions down at welterweight.
(AP Photo/John Locher). Amir Khan, right, and Canelo Alvarez pose for photographers during a news conference at the MGM Grand, Wednesday, May 4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Watch Canelo vs Khan online live streaming for the full fight, though unfortunately not free, through pay-per-view options available. “I’d put on the gloves again (and fight right now)”, Canelo told Max Kellerman of HBO.
Prior to the fight, Khan’s camp had to agree to several demands from Alvarez’s team including a higher catch-weight and a rematch clause if he wins.
But he insisted: “I always believe in myself. It’s all about having belief in yourself”.
Despite Khan being four years older than Mexican boxer, it is Alvarez who has more experience.
“A lot of people focus on my power but I have more qualities in the ring”. Khan has embarked on an intense training regimen to bulk up to 155 pounds while attempting to maintain his speed, which is his greatest asset.
“I think the weight might be a bit exaggerated in terms of Canelo’s effectiveness”. “Come Saturday, I’m excited to yell, ‘Viva Mexico!'”, Canelo said. Whereas Canelo punches hard Khan relies on his speed to be effective, so it should be highly entertaining seeing if Canelo can land solid punches on Khan who will be moving fast to avoid them.
“At times it’s going to be a chess match”, Khan said.
According to Daily Mail, Floyd Mayweather has been engaged in talks with some TV networks for a prize that will make him ditch his retirement and go back to boxing.
That has gotten Khan into trouble in the past, and some in boxing question his chin after suffering two knockouts.
Mayweather retired after beating Andre Berto handily in his last fight.
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Khan admits not everybody gives him a chance against Alvarez but he knows he will get the respect he for so long wanted when he proved his critics wrong. “I have to do the same kind of thing”.
