ALFREDO ANGULO is hoping a move up to middleweight will rescue his career following back-to-back losses to Erislandy Lara and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. According to the Mexican’s trainer, the accomplished Virgil Hunter, Angulo had been struggling with the 154-pound limit for a long time.
“It gets to a point with most fighters where it gets almost impossible to take the weight off, and for the last fight [vs Alvarez] he almost killed himself,” Hunter told Boxing News about Angulo, who takes on James De La Rosa in a 10-rounder on Saturday night.
“He would be in the gym at 164 lbs, and he’d work his way down to 163, and he’d have to get all the way to 154lbs. It helped knowing that he was coming down in weight, but he did his best work in the gym when he weighed 163, 164lbs.”
Angulo, looking relaxed and cheerful, said: “The new weight class feels good.”
He will be favourite to beat his Mexican countryman in the MGM Grand, but the comparatively unknown De La Rosa – who has beaten Tim Coleman and Tyrone Brunson – is looking forward to getting some attention.
“I’m gonna put on a show,” he said, almost singing. “You’ve never seen my skills so get ready for a treat.”
