Canelo vs. Khan: Fight Time, Projected Winner and Vegas Odds
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Amir Khan will meet for Canelo’s WBC middleweight championship in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, May 7, the first title defence for the Mexican star.
The two will meet at a catchweight of 155 pounds, something that has become a habit for Alvarez, representing a huge challenge for Khan, who is a natural welterweight and has limited experience fighting at a higher weight.
Canelo is the clear favourite to win this fight. Here’s a look at the latest odds, courtesy of Odds Shark:
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| Saul Alvarez | -500 |
| Amir Khan | +350 |
Broadcast for the PPV starts at 1:30 a.m. BST on Boxnation, with HBO starting their broadcast at 9 p.m. ET.
Preview
Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) and Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) surprised almost everyone when they announced their bout back in February, as few expected Canelo, who just came off a big win over Miguel Cotto, to defend his title against a man who has spent the past few years hunting down big fights in the welterweight division.
British fans were waiting for Khan to finally face compatriot Kell Brook, while the 29-year-old appeared to be holding out for a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao, per Joe Gallagher of the Manchester Evening News.
Both Money and Pac-Man turned down fights with Khan, who remains popular in his native England but hasn’t been a major international draw since back-to-back losses against Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia.
Most pundits believe Khan stands little chance against the hard-hitting Alvarez, but Gallagher sees things differently:
"I see his speed being a problem for Alvarez because his speed is a problem for anyone.
And he won’t struggle to make the weight.
I expect Khan to take the early rounds. The question is how he deals with Alvarez’ body punches as the fight goes on.
If he comes through it he will be in pole position for Mayweather if Money makes his latest comeback from retirement.
"
Khan’s hand-speed and technical prowess are certainly impressive. The man from Bolton won an Olympic silver medal in 2004, aged just 17, and his amateur pedigree is clear to see when he fights.
His footwork is solid, he strings together combinations well and his jab is among the fastest in the welterweight division.
But Khan’s chin has always been a major issue. He suffered a brutal knockout loss against Garcia and barely survived a late onslaught from Marcos Maidana in 2010, winning by decision. Here are the highlights of that bout, via HBO’s official YouTube channel:
Khan was rightly praised for surviving that 10th round and not dropping to the canvas after a massive right overhand shot from Maidana, but a better finisher would have taken advantage of Khan’s wobbly legs and finished the fight right there.
And Canelo is a better finisher. The 25-year-old is a compact puncher with plenty of knockout power, and while he doesn’t need stoppages to win fights, he’s never been shy about opening up early. Just ask James Kirkland:
Canelo doesn’t have the amateur background Khan has, and he’s not as technically proficient as the Brit, but he turned pro at the young age of 15 and more than knows how to handle himself in the ring. He has more than enough technical prowess to close off the ring, and he’s great at setting up big shots.
Expect Khan to show his hand-speed and try to keep his distance, knowing the kind of damage Alvarez can do when he lands his bodyshots. He has the advantage in foot speed, and with the fight being at a catchweight, the size disparity won’t be a major issue.
But Khan isn’t considered a strong puncher in the welterweight division, let alone at 155 pounds, and his biggest weakness is defending the overhand counter—the very punch Alvarez has turned into an art form. Even Chris Algieri hurt him at times in his last bout, and it’s hard to see any scenario in which his chin survives Canelo’s power.
Projected Winner: Alvarez by mid-round stoppage.
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