Former world champion Paulie Malignaggi believes that Jermell Charlo can beat Canelo Alvarez, but thinks the Mexican will win.
The two undisputed fighters go at it at middleweight on Saturday night in a fight shown live on DAZN (UK and Ireland only).
Many think Charlo is at a disadvantage as he traditionally fights at light middleweight, two divisions below Canelo, but Malignaggi has some words of advice.
He told Alpha Casino: “I think Charlo has to make it a boring fight. He's got a good jab. Canelo tends to have problems with jabbers. The only issue I have with Charlo, besides being two weight classes smaller, is that he tends to overstay his welcome in the pocket and get too excited with his speed and with his combinations, as a result, he tends to get hit on the end of his combinations. And you can maybe do that against guys your size like Castano, he was able to survive that against Castano. But it would look bad. But against a guy that's big and powerful like Canelo, it’s a problem.
“People say that Charlo looked bigger at the press conferences. Yes, but Canelo is filled in better at the weight class, he got there slowly and he's hurting guys at that weight class. You don't know how Charlo’s power is going to translate at that higher weight.
"You don't know how carrying around the extra weight is going to affect Charlo’s footwork and Charlo’s ability to move around the ring. And of course, the mental psychological stress.”
However, the retired fighter sees a weakness in Charlo’s mentality in the ring.
He explained: “Charlo is an emotional guy and he fights off his emotions a lot of times, and that's why he ends up staying in the pocket a little too long at times to try to get that big shot. If that you're emotionally a guy who's a little bit unnerved - a Canelo fight is an even higher level of emotion, because the crowd is louder, it's even bigger. The moment is bigger, so controlling the emotions, it becomes a little bit tougher.
“I think Charlo has the physical tools, but I don't know if he mentally will be able to do things that I personally have never really seen him do. I thought he fought a much more disciplined fight in the rematch with Castano. But again, this moment is a much bigger moment. He would have to have a career moment here to win this fight. He's got the talent, but there's a lot more required than just talent."
Malignaggi predicted a knockout win for Canelo.
“Charlo is too emotional - he'll land a double jab right hand, for example, and the crowd will go crazy and instead of being in and out after that combination, he'll stay there and look to throw the hook and body shots,” he continued.
“Before you know he’s trading instead of being in and out. He’s trading instead of getting your shots off and exiting the pocket. And so, if you're susceptible to making rash decisions emotionally in the moment, then Canelo fights are even more risk to you because Canelo crowds are the biggest crowds in the sport, at least in this hemisphere, so he has tools, but mentally he would have to become something that we haven't seen yet from him.I think Canelo gets him late [by KO].”