Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez outlines threat posed by Amir Khan

The talented former world champion will fight above welterweight for the first time in his career at a catchweight of 155lbs, officially middleweight, to challenge Alvarez for the Mexican’s WBC title at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) took time on Sunday, Feb. 28 to kick off their press conference tour week visiting some of London’s most recognizable landmarks.

In Alvarez, Khan faces a fighter who has lost just once in his career – to Floyd Mayweather in 2013 – and the Briton knows he must brace for what will probably be the toughest test of his career.

“It is a bigger fight financially”, he maintained. Especially in America it will be massive for my profile there, and in England. That is giving me that extra push. No one ever expected this; the shock has made this fight even bigger.

“A lot of people are saying to me, “why do you want to move up to middleweight and fight this huge fighter, this huge puncher?’ and I said ‘look guys, I really believe I can win this fight”.

Meanwhile, Alvarez confirmed negotiations were already under way for him to fight WBA and IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

Amir Khan claims he will prove the doubters wrong by beating “monster” Saul Alvarez.

“This might be the real weight for me, I’ve never had that chance and this is the first time I am going to do this”, he added.

“A lot of people think I won’t be strong or big enough for this guy”, he said.

Khan has not been in a world title fight since he was knocked out by Danny Garcia in 2012 and has had only three fights as a welterweight.

His trainer Virgil Hunter – widely respected for his work in guiding the masterful Andre Ward – has a reputation as a disciplinarian so it surprised many that he agreed to a fight few believe Khan will win, but the 2004 Olympic silver medallist explained that Hunter needed persuading and also spoke of a belief his trainer could be his greatest asset come May.

Former six-weight world champion Oscar de la Hoya, who promotes Alvarez, said the fight reminded him of the 1987 classic between Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler, in which the former’s speed trumped the latter’s size and power. If he is 165lbs then we might be the same weight. Khan would answer by telling you that he’s sturdier at the higher weight now that he doesn’t have to drain himself down. “I am expecting the best Canelo because I am not looking at him being a lighter weight or a heavier weight I am just going to do my thing”.