Canelo Alvarez is signed to fight James "The Mandingo Warrior" Kirkland on May 2, and even if a super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. forces them to move the date, Canelo-Kirkland is happening.
Kirkland is an extremely powerful puncher; he will enter the ring with a 32-1-0 record that includes 28 knockouts. He has also been largely inactive throughout his career. Kirkland hasn't fought since knocking out Glen Tapia in Atlantic City in December 2013. Prior to that, he'd fought just once in 2012, a victory over Carlos Molina.
To combat the lack of tune up fights, Kirkland may link back up with trainer Ann Wolfe, whose training camps are notably difficult.
"I'm not sure if they will be together. Give it until the end of the week," Kirkland's adviser Mike Miller said. "I hope so. He's undefeated with Ann."
Alvarez, despite his youth, has a long track record to judge his strengths and weaknesses. While Kirkland possesses the power to hurt him, Alvarez has always looked best against stationary fighters that prefer to trade. They share a common opponent, Alfredo Angulo, and both Alvarez and Kirkland were able to stop him in similar fashion.
Kirkland thinks that Alvarez's stamina, or lack thereof, might make him vulnerable. Kirkland is a known pressure fighter, and thinks he can overwhelm Alvarez, and hurt him in moments of weakness.
"He's going to be busier than him, go to the body," Miller said of Kirkland's plan to beat Alvarez. "Canelo doesn't like that and James hits as hard or harder than anyone Canelo has been in the ring with.
"James also thinks he takes parts of rounds or rounds off."
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