I picking Lara this weekend!!!!

[Rantcatrat]

@Ron Swanson nailed it. Canelo at heart is a boxer-puncher, not a pressure fighter, like an Angulo, who Lara struggled with. Canelo also isn't the pure boxer that Molina is, who Lara struggled also with. Lara beat the other boxer-puncher he faced in Trout. It's a tough call. My issue is whether at 23 Canelo has learned to adjust. If Lara runs and pot shots from the outside, which he should do to win, can Canelo pressure effectively and corner Lara into exchanges? I hesitate to say that he can. Also, Lara has a world class trainer in Ronnie Shields and Canelo's trainers are sort of an unknown commodity. They didn't do a good job with preparation for the Mayweather fight is all we know. How was Canelo's camp in that regard? I'm leaning Lara now.

[zhubin]

Both fighters have something to prove. Lara, while a slick boxer, often fights in spurts. If this fight goes to the cards, he will have no chance winning on points. Lara also has a tendency to keep his hands down...leaving him open to getting caught with a punch. I am still not convinced on Canelo's stamina. He also fights in spurts and can have a tendency to slow in latter rounds. It's a pick em fight for me. But i feel Lara will be under more pressure to be active and busy...a close fight going to the cards will not be in his favor.

[beenKOed]

Both fighters have something to prove. Lara, while a slick boxer, often fights in spurts. If this fight goes to the cards, he will have no chance winning on points. Lara also has a tendency to keep his hands down...leaving him open to getting caught with a punch. I am still not convinced on Canelo's stamina. He also fights in spurts and can have a tendency to slow in latter rounds. It's a pick em fight for me. But i feel Lara will be under more pressure to be active and busy...a close fight going to the cards will not be in his favor.

Good point about Lara being under pressure to win big.
The fight has huge implications for both fighters, Lara is desperate to stay on track for bigger fights and Alvarez wants to stay in the PPV arena. This will be Alvarez's third straight PPV fight--I think--so he wants and needs the win.

[Master]

I am suprised at how small Lara is and think that he will get beat by Canelo.

[Scott22]

I am suprised at how small Lara is and think that he will get beat by Canelo.

So was I. Lara better bring his A game. He's going to need it to keep Canelo off him

[Abelardus]

I am suprised at how small Lara is and think that he will get beat by Canelo.

So was I. Lara better bring his A game. He's going to need it to keep Canelo off him

I thought he was smaller. But he looked bigger at the weigh-in.

[Hulk]

I am suprised at how small Lara is and think that he will get beat by Canelo.

So was I. Lara better bring his A game. He's going to need it to keep Canelo off him

I thought he was smaller. But he looked bigger at the weigh-in.

[Ron Swanson]

Does anyone know what weight Lara usually enters the ring?

[mikeeod]

I don't see Canelo pressuring Lara like he needs to in order to win. It isn't a fight I would feel comfortable betting on, but I think Lara will outbox Canelo. I think the big unknowns for this fight are:
1) Will Canelo come in aggressively and force this issue like Angulo did, or will he try to be a boxer/sharpshooter like he was vs Floyd. My guy tells me he doesn't force the issue and looks confused as he is outboxed.
2) Will the judges reward Lara for boxing smartly or is the decision already there for Canelo. My gut says that Canelo has the money backing him and will have the judges support for any round that isn't a complete blowout. All the potential tonight for a rip off job.
3) How will Lara handle it if he tastes Canelos hook. I see a possibility for Canelo to end things suddenly if Lara loses focus and catches a flush hook to the head. Lara tends to get complacent and he could pay for it.

I won't be surprised either way, and commend both guys for taking this fight. That being said, I think that the most likely scenario is that Lara boxes well throughout and Canelo has another less than stellar performance vs a solid boxer. Canelo is a guy who doesn't like to waste punches and will lower his output and hold his hands when facing a mobile boxer with good skills.

[Ron Swanson]

Appreciate the update about fight night weight guys. I really don't know who to pick here. Canelo doesn't naturally fight in the manner to trouble Lara's style but Canelo isn't one dimensional. He can adjust. I thought Canelo looked starved as usual at the weigh in which suggests his stamina will be an issue again. Lara looked absolutely fantastic at weigh in to me. Lara is what he is so Canelo dictates how this goes in my opinion. I'd side with Lara unless a better version of Canelo than we've ever seen shows up. Is Canelo a popular fighter or a great fighter, we find out tonight.