In a candid interview with FightHub TV, WBA Featherweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz gave his take on Canelo vs Khan. Santa Cruz agreed, like most of us, that there are some uncertainties going in, but ultimately picked Canelo Alvarez as the victor. Too big, too strong, and simply too much for Britain’s Amir Khan was the story.
Santa Cruz viewed Khan as being more vulnerable on the whiskers than most fighters, and especially at Junior Welterweight (155-pounds) which will be unknown territory. Khan is yet to face a legitimate threat at Welterweight – let alone a bona-fide puncher – so naturally it’s hard to not foresee overwhelming peril awaiting the lightening-fisted Brit.
Though the odds are stacked heavily against Khan, his impressive record – albeit against lighter opposition – cannot be disputed. Khan, a former Junior Welterweight titlist and Silver medalist, put in blistering performances against Andriy Kotelnik and Paulie Malignaggi, went through hell to get the better of Marcos Maidana, and knocked out Zab Judah. Not too shabby at all.
When it comes to Canelo’s achievements, it’s a little more perplexing given all those irritating catchweights – in recent times, anyway. But none the less, Canelo’s been conquering some notable opposition and a few marquee names in recent times, only suffering a sole career loss to Floyd Mayweather back in 2013. Hey, who hasn’t lost to that guy?
Canelo’s biggest wins have come against Austin Trout, Alfredo Angulo, Cuban technician Erislandy Lara, James Kirkland, and then-WBC Middleweight champ Miguel Cotto in late 2015.
Going in, Canelo – who supposedly rehydrates to a frightening 180 pounds – stands at 46 wins, 32 knockouts, 1 defeat and 1 draw, while Khan will bring 31 wins, 19 knockouts and 3 defeats into the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. The pair will collide on May 7th, with the action airing on HBO (Pay Per View, I believe).
Check out Santa Cruz’s comments for yourself in the above interview and then give us your take on Canelo vs Khan below. Are you backing Canelo Alvarez all the way in this one, or does Amir Khan have a good chance of pulling off what would be one of the year’s most shocking upsets?
