Two-time former world champion Amir Khan is determined to down Mexican Canelo Alvarez in May 7 bouts, local media reported on Wednesday.
The Pakistan-born athlete is eyeing middle weight champion title with Alvarez clash. It is going to be Khan’s first fight above welterweight.
Earlier Khan had said that he didn’t want to demand a rehydration clause for Alvarez fight because he wants to make the biggest possible statement in his first bout above welterweight.
Former world champion Khan will fight at a catch weight of 155lbs, officially middleweight, to challenge Alvarez for the Mexican’s WBC title in Las Vegas.
Given the significant difference in size between challenger and champion when they appeared together in London, it appeared a risky oversight that Khan did not demand a restriction on Alvarez’s weight on fight night.
Alvarez’s frame means there is little to stop him gaining a further 20lbs after weighing in to effectively compete at light-heavyweight and therefore leaving Khan, the underdog who turned professional as a lightweight, at an even greater disadvantage.
However, the catch weight limit is only a pound over light-middleweight and fully five pounds below the official middleweight limit, meaning it’s practically a light-middleweight fight, which is the next division above Khan’s welterweight category.
Alvarez has operated at light-middleweight for most of his career but won the WBC title against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto when two light-middleweights fought at the same 155lbs catch weight for a middleweight belt.
Khan’s best chance comes in using his superior speed and mobility, but he still maintained he hadn’t taken an unnecessary risk with the weight issue.
