Not that the two fighters needed any extra motivation but the WBC upped the ante on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez junior middleweight showdown by announcing it would make the first ever 24k gold title belt for the September 14 clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
The WBC belt will feature a strap made of Ferrari leather and the WBC plaque, coins bearing both fighters and the American flag all made out of 24k gold.
In addition to the WBC belt that Alvarez currently holds, Mayweather’s WBA super belt will also be on the line for what may be the biggest fight since Mayweather took on Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
The bout, which will be at a catch-weight of 152 pounds, is considered Mayweather’s biggest test to many as he is finally taking on a young, hungry prospect and not a fighter they feel is past their prime.
Mayweather’s defensive style and superior counter-punching will cause Alvarez fits as he is not afraid to push the action. Pushing the action plays right into Mayweather’s advantage though, as he is the best at catching fighters as the come in, halting most attacks before any punches of real substance are landed.
Many feel that Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs) is more prone to taking punches when he fights above the 147-pound welterweight limit. In his two fights above 147 pounds, against Miguel Cotto in 2012 and De La Hoya in 2007, Mayweather has taken significantly more punishment and that is something to pay attention to once fight night is upon us.
All though Canleo boasts a seemingly strong record at 42-0 (30 KOs), most of those bouts were in Mexico against less than stellar opposition. In his last bout against his most able opponent, Austin Trout, Canelo didn’t look as dominate and won a somewhat controversial unanimous decision in front of a heavily pro-Alvarez crowd at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.
