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Canelo focused on Lopez, then wants unification at 154

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Saul Alvarez prepares for another defence of his WBC belt

Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is hoping a victory over Josesito Lopez on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will set him up for some huge unification bouts in 2013.

Alvarez, who at 22 is already a veteran of more than 40 professional contests, faces blown-up light-welterweight Josesito Lopez this weekend and knows he has to look good to keep himself in the frame for fights against the likes of WBA ‘super’ champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The WBC belt holder was due to meet Victor Ortiz on the September 15 bill until Lopez stunned the former world champion by breaking his jaw in June and now steps up two divisions in the space of a year.

Unbeaten Alvarez is now just days from his fifth defence of the green belt he currently holds and knows he can’t afford to take a win over the Californian for granted, given the challenger's performance at the Staples Center earlier in the summer.

“My preparations have gone very good. I'm always excited about a big fight,” Alvarez told World Boxing News.

“Lopez is a smart fighter and has lots of courage to go with his good chin. That's why I'm working hard, not taking him lightly and am fully focused on our big fight this Saturday.

“If I win by knockout great, but I'm prepared to win a decision over twelve challenging rounds.”

Some still have Alvarez in the shake-up to face an undecided Manny Pacquiao on December 8 at the same venue as the Filipino stalls on naming Juan Manuel Marquez as his next opponent, although ‘Canelo’ is not giving a possible clash any thought just yet.

“Honestly I don't even think about Pacquiao, Mayweather or anyone when I train for the Lopez fight,” he stated. “That can be a big mistake when you look too far ahead, ask Victor Ortiz.”

There have also been rumours that Alvarez’s frustration at not being able to nail down a fight with Pacquiao or Mayweather could lead to a move up to 160lbs to face the winner of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. v Sergio Martinez, which takes place on the same night, but for now he is happy as a light-middleweight.

“Right now, I'm very comfortable at 154 and it would be a great honour to hold all the belts at my weight,” Alvarez explained.

“When I go into my promoter's Golden Boy office I see ten beautiful championship belts won by Oscar de la Hoya in a glass case.  Don't all fighters dream that dream to come true?”

Saul Alvarez v Josesito Lopez is live on Showtime this Saturday from 9pm ET/6pm PT and on BoxNation from 2am.

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