LOPEZ EYES UPSET AGAINST ?CANELO? ALVAREZ
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 13 Sep 2012
Josesito Lopez (30-4, 18 KO?s) eyes an upset when he battles undefeated Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KO?s) for his WBC light middleweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday.
The fight will be telecast on the widely watched weekly boxing show ?Big Time Bakbakan? at 12:00 noon over AKTV IBC 13.
The 28 year old Lopez who surprised the experts and average fight fans when he forced ?Vicious? Victor Ortiz to retire in the 9th round with a broken jaw last June 23 despite being a late replacement, aims to repeat that feat against the popular Alvarez who is the naturally bigger man.
Lopez will move up two weight divisions to challenge Alvarez but that doesn?t appear to bother him. Lopez said "We're not really focusing on the weight too much, which is completely different. We're focusing more on maintaining weight really, because throughout these intense workouts it's natural to start losing some weight.?
Lopez claims ?we've had a great nutritional diet that we've followed and I'm feeling stronger and better than ever and I think that's definitely what I'm going to have to need to come out with the victory. I know that I need to fight the best fight of my life to win.?
While conceding that Alvarez? size is an advantage for the Mexican champion, Lopez said ?we have had plenty of time to prepare for this fight and I think that for this fight I'm going to be the strongest I've ever been and I'm excited.?
He said "I've studied some videos. I looked at him and obviously, like any fighter, he has some weaknesses - all of us do. He's well-conditioned, he always comes in shape, he's going to be ready for the fight. But he's the type of fighter that likes to dictate the pace and likes to dictate the fight, and I think we have to provide a game-plan so we can beat him and obviously be victorious."
Alvarez has indicated he will not underestimate Lopez because "He's a very smart fighter. He's a good fighter, very smart. He's got very, very good combinations so I think he's a very good fighter.?
At the same time Alvarez stressed "I'm never over-confident. I've prepared very well, I never, you know, think that any fighters are going to be an easy fight. So I'm not over-confident and I'm very, very well-prepared for this fight. Obviously he's a very good fighter. He's a fighter that knows how to pressure, he's also a fighter that knows how to counterpunch, but I think that I'm going to be prepared for everything. I'll do my best and I'm going to be prepared for the fight."
Alvarez whose career has been carefully nursed and is extremely popular in Mexico, won the WBC 154 pound title by defeating Europe?s blown-up champion Matthew Hatton by a twelve round unanimous decision on March 5, 2011. In his last fight on May 5 this year Alvarez was taken the distance before winning a unanimous twelve round decision over an ageing Shane Mosley.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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