Canelo Alvarez is ready to show Jermell Charlo his skills

Canelo Alvarez has been considered one of the greatest boxers of his generation for several years now. Yet, the ginger from Guadalajara clearly doesn’t forget slights, whether real or otherwise.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight world champion, is putting more than his four championship belts on the line Saturday night against Jermell Charlo at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. 

The Mexican legend wants to make the undisputed junior middleweight champ pay for previous comments.

Canelo Alvarez touts ‘new skills’

“Jermell is right. I have nothing to prove,” Canelo said of the fight, which will be on SHOWTIME PPV. “But this time, I have something to prove to him. He never believed in my skills. He’s been calling me out. Now I have the opportunity to show him my skills.

“And that motivates me. I had a great camp, and I’m ready to show everybody my new skills.”

Canelo Alvarez, 33, is 59-2 with 39 knockouts. The 6-foot Charlo is 35-1-1 with 19 knockouts.

The Canelo-Charlo bout will be the first between undisputed champions in the four-belt era. They are their respective weight classes’ champions in the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO.

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Canelo Alvarez was adamant Wednesday that he is always 100 percent motivated for his fights. Yet, he insists that there is extra motivation heading into this championship bout. Alvarez vows to punish Charlo for the Houston boxer’s past comments calling him out.

“He’s gonna feel it,” Alvarez said of Charlo. “It’s hard to explain it, but it’s just something different. He’s not used to being in there with a fighter like me.”

Charlo isn’t taking Canelo Alvarez for granted

Alvarez is one of the biggest box office draws in boxing. He may no longer be in his prime, but he has a large following. Charlo, 33, has won four of his last five fights. He had a split-decision draw on July 17, 2021, against Argentine Brian Carlos Castaño.

Charlo atoned in the rematch by beating Castaño via TKO on May 14, 2022. Charlo returns to the ring for the first time since beating Castaño.

“Canelo is the kind of fighter you can’t take for granted,” Charlo said. “He’s done everything in this sport of boxing, and he’s got nothing to prove.”

That assessment is technically correct. Canelo Alvarez, however, insists on taking the ring with something to prove to Charlo.

“People will always have something negative to say,” Alvarez said. “I have to prove that I’m still on top.”