We’re just one day away from the Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. weigh-ins. This special Mexico vs. Mexico showdown on Cinco de Mayo weekend is non-title and will be fought at a catchweight of 164.5 lbs. Canelo (48-1-1, 34 KOs) has never fought above 155 lbs in his career, while Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) hasn’t fought anywhere near 164.5 lbs for five years and has a history of missing weight.
To really put in financial incentive to make weight, instead of just handling the standard fine from the Nevada Athletic Commission, it’s been written into the contracts of both fighters that 1 pound over is $1 million lost. Here’s what Chavez Jr. said back when the fight was announced:
Chavez Jr. said that if he were to come in at 165 pounds, he would have to pay Canelo an amount of $1 million even though he’s just a ½ pound over. (Canelo later said at his round-table with reporters that he will pocket the money directly.) “One pound, one $million,” Chavez said. Chavez’s attorney, Guadalupe Valencia expanded on this, saying there is a $1 million penalty for any additional pound that he is over after 165 so if he were to come in at 165.6, he would be penalized $2 million. Chavez, who said he currently weighed around 180 pounds, shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
Let’s not kid ourselves on this matter. This clause is in place because of Chavez Jr, the former WBC 160 lbs champion. Canelo has missed weight once before, but that was at the junior middleweight limit of 154 lbs. He’s moving up and is expected to have no problems on the scale. Chavez Jr. came in overweight for a 168 lbs bout vs. Marcos Reyes just two fights ago. In a scheduled 168 lbs bout vs. Bryan Vera in 2013, Chavez Jr. wasn’t remotely close to making weight, so a catchweight was instituted.
According to Chavez Jr’s trainer, Angel Heredia, Julio’s weight cut is going just fine. (Via LA Times on Wednesday)
“He’s in good shape, woke up at 167 this morning,” Heredia said, describing Chavez’s diet as 1,000 calories daily, with strawberries, jicama and egg-white omelettes downed with water. “He knows $1 million is a lot to give.”
You can catch the Canelo vs. Chavez Jr. weigh-ins live stream right here on Bloody Elbow at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT on Friday, May 5th.
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