Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum does not think reigning World Boxing Champion middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has a big advantage over Manny Pacquiao. In fact, the veteran promoter thinks Pacquiao could easily beat Alvarez if they collide in a super fight this year.
Arum said in an interview with Fighthub that Canelo's size advantage will not be a big factor if ever Pacquiao and Alvarez face each other in a 155-pound fight.
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The Hall of Fame promoter said that Pacquiao's speed and power will negate Canelo's size advantage similar to what the Filipino boxing icon did to Oscar De La Hoya, when they fought in 2008.
Pacquiao, who had to move from 135 pounds to 147 to finalize the showdown, gave De La Hoya a beating and forced the former world champion to quit before the ninth round of the bout. De La Hoya retired after absorbing the toughest loss of his illustrious career.
"As far as Canelo is concerned, I think [Pacquiao] would accept the challenge," Arum said of the proposed Pacquiao-Canelo fight. "With Manny, the way he is now with both hands working the way they are now, Canelo is going to take the kind of beating from Manny that Oscar took."
Arum thinks that Canelo will not be able to catch Pacquiao, who is much faster than the Mexican boxing superstar. But the promoter also clarified that the former pound-for-pound should beat Timothy Bradley first on Saturday before considering facing Alvarez later this year.
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Alvarez is also set to defend his WBC middleweight title against Amir Khan on May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be Canelo's first defense of the title after capturing the crown via a unanimous decision victory against Miguel Cotto in November last year.
Chepo Reynoso, Canelo's manager, admitted that they are very interested in facing Pacquiao because it will be a big fight for both fighters and the fans. However, Reynoso said that they are not taking it seriously at this point, as they are focused on the fight with Khan next month.
"Obviously we would be interested in a big fight like that with Pacquiao," Reynoso told ESPN Deportes via BoxingScene. "He's been one of the best fighters of recent times, and it would be a big fight, but as always we will not disrespect Amir Khan. Our first priority is Amir Khan and that's the fighter we are preparing for."
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