Canelo vs. Chavez Jr.: 5 keys to victory for Canelo Alvarez
By Peter Kahn
Canelo Alvarez will ensure success over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. with these five keys to victory.
On May 6, Canelo Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (51-2-1, 32 KOs) in a clash of Mexican pride. The bout taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be contested at a catchweight of 165 pounds. Although Canelo is a big betting favorite, the following five keys will spell success for the Guadalajara native.
Don’t believe the hype
One can argue that Chavez Jr.’s comments last week as to why Canelo chose him could be taken straight from pages of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. To quote the ancient strategist, “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
Chavez didn’t hold back when asked why he felt Canelo chose him.
“They do not want me to be at my best. [They picked me] because of my inactivity, I broke my hand, my disregard for training in the gym … I think they took the fight because of that because they believe that I am not at 100 percent,” Chavez Jr. said.
This could easily be a bit of psychological warfare with Chavez Jr. hoping to create a sense of overconfidence for Canelo. Even we pundits called this bout insulting when it was announced. Canelo needs to follow Chuck D’s advice and don’t believe the hype. Canelo needs to enter the ring with bad intentions and have his game face on.
Make it an inside (and outside) job
With a four-inch height advantage, three-inch reach advantage and seven years under his belt fighting in this weight class, Chavez Jr. has the physical traits that can spell frustration for Canelo. A natural counter-puncher, Canelo can lose valuable time waiting for opportunities that might not present themselves. He will have to work his way inside and stay inside more than usual in order to land the punches he needs to land.
Canelo needs to mitigate Chavez Jr.’s height and reach by staying close. But there’s a caveat to this key: Canelo needs to know when and how long to stay inside as he doesn’t want to get caught on the ropes and absorb an onslaught by Chavez Jr. either. This key can make the difference in the fight.
Go to the body early
Nothing stops a fighter in his tracks like a vicious and ongoing body attack. We have all seen Canelo’s knockout power throughout the years. The highlight reel head attack needs to translate to the body to halt the forward movement by Chavez Jr.
The bigger man, Chavez Jr. will look to impose his size and strength on Canelo. The body work by Canelo early and often will allow him to dictate the pace of this fight as it progresses. It can also open the door to a knockout in the middle rounds.
Punches in bunches
Canelo will need to use his ability to throw creative combinations and keep Chavez Jr. on the defensive. One of the top combination punchers in boxing, Canelo needs to employ the use of angles and movement to prevent Chavez Jr. from being stationary and sitting down on his punches.
Remember, Chavez Jr. is the naturally bigger man in many ways. A question mark still exists with regard to how effective Canelo will be as he continues to move up in weight. With that being said, combinations will be extremely important in Canelo’s success.
Next: 5 best KOs of Canelo's career
Be a dictator
Canelo must dictate every aspect of this fight. He cannot let Chavez Jr. feel like he’s in control at any point. To quote the former United States National Security Advisor Colin Powell, “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”
If Canelo allows Chavez Jr. to feel purpose and that he’s having success, or more importantly, if Chavez Jr. is in control, Canelo could lose valuable ground and provide his opponent with the opening he needs to make this fight more competitive than it needs to be. Canelo simply needs to dictate. Canelo cannot let this turn into a brawl, nor can he allow Chavez Jr. to control the distance. Canelo needs to be the dictator.
The favorite to win this fight, Canelo needs to stick to his game plan and be mindful of the five keys for his success on Saturday night.