LIAM SMITH’S trainer Joe Gallagher promised that his fighter will not defend his WBO super-welterweight title against Canelo Alvarez if the Mexican fails to make the 154lb weight limit. Alvarez hasn’t been that low since his 2013 loss to Floyd Mayweather, and today Gallagher addressed concerns that the Mexican may struggle to make the required weight for Saturday’s Smith-Canelo showdown at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“I’ve been asked this before, Saul [Canelo] Alvarez and his team are huge professionals and I have huge respect for them,” Gallagher explained today.
“I’m sure they are going to be professional and I don’t expect no slip-ups at the weigh-in. I expect Alvarez to make the weight at 154lbs, but to let everyone know if Saul Alvarez doesn’t make the weight there will be no fight. Liam Smith is world champion and he is here to defend it.
“I am not saying Saul won’t make the weight, I expect him too but we have seen there has been a trend in the last few years where fighters come in and say ‘it is a pound, what you going to do? We have made this big fight and sold it.’ If they don’t make weight and ask ‘are you going to go ahead with the fight?’ No we won’t.”
“We have made our weight contractually and if Canelo doesn’t make the weight then give us our pay cheque and we will go shopping. We would walk away if he is one or two pounds over. I’m just making it known now. But I don’t think it will be an issue. I have a lot of respect for them and it would be insulting to suggest they won’t make the weight. I don’t see it as being a problem as I know they are ultimate professionals and we are ultimate professionals.”
Alvarez’s last five fights have taken place at the 155lbs, but his team – led by trainers Chepo and Eddy Reynoso – expect Canelo to make weight, yet admitted the process is never easy.
“It’s always a battle [to make weight] for every fight, ” said Chepo. “If you’re a welterweight, you’re going to battle to make welterweight, if you’re at 154lbs, you’re going to battle. As of now [Wednesday] everything is fine, but we’ll know on Friday if there’s any stumbling blocks or any problems. As of right now, he’s [Alvarez] right on target.”
Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez added: “That notion of him moving ‘down’ from middleweight – middleweight is 160lbs. The highest he’s fought is 155lbs, and it’s getting a bit ridiculous that people are saying it’s going to be an issue.”
GALLAGHER’S EXCLUSIVE VIDEO MESSAGE
Who wins and when? Smith-Canelo preview and prediction in this week’s Boxing News
