The biggest challenge for Saul "Canelo" Alvarez when he faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be figuring out Mayweather's complex defense and managing to land clean shots on the pound-for-pound king.
That problem has vexed all 44 of Mayweather's previous opponents, none of whom have even come close to solving his shoulder roll. None of them, however, faced Mayweather in their physical primes, nor have a number of them possessed as much power as Alvarez.
That is why Floyd Mayweather Sr. has been hinting that his son may take a new approach against the young bull, and fight offensively. "I think you'll get a chance to see Floyd put on a scare tactic," Mayweather Sr. said. "Floyd's gonna get in his face and beat his a-- and you're gonna see Canelo backing up. It's going to be fear, what makes him (Alvarez) run."
At 44-0 with 27 knockouts, Mayweather has proven he can hit with authority, even if his KO total doesn't inspire awe. His defensive style tends to obscure just how quick his fists can be. Perhaps Mayweather feels that Alvarez could inflict punishment on him even if all he hits are arms.
Clearly, the Mayweather camp respects the power of Alvarez, who floored Austin Trout for the first time in his career in Canelo's last bout, a unanimous decision win. With that in mind, they feel they have prepared to counteract Canelo's thunder with quickness.
"The only thing little Floyd's got to do - one thing he's got to do, if he can do that - make sure Alvarez don't hit him with no good shot in his head or in his body," Mayweather Sr. said. "Other than that, it's Floyd TV, it's Floyd that's going to be doing it, and it's Floyd's show."
The way to do that is to step into the ring without any intimidation. It should come as no surprise that neither Mayweather is showing concern. "I definitely don't see Canelo whupping him," the elder Mayweather said. "I'm going to be honest, man, it don't even fear me at all."
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