CANELO ALVAREZ has backed Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk, while heaping praise on Anthony Joshua.
Usyk is lined up for an undisputed title decider against Fury having beaten AJ for the second time in 11 months.
But Canelo has talked down the Ukrainian’s chances in the unification blockbuster due to the weight he is due to give away.
He said: “It’s gonna be a good fight, but I think Fury is gonna win because he has everything.
“He has boxing skills and he has the weight, so it’s gonna be different.”
Fury, 34, weighed 18st 12lb for his last win, a knockout against Dillian Whyte in April which he claimed would be his final fight.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Whereas Usyk, 35, scaled 15st 11lb for his two wins over Joshua.
Usyk scored a convincing points win over his Brit foe last September before last Saturday’s controversial split-decision victory in the rematch.
His performance was hailed by Canelo, 32, who admitted Usyk was just too skilled.
He said: “He looked good, he looked good. It’s just – Usyk is a great fighter. I think that’s the difference.”
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Canelo returns on September 17 in a Las Vegas trilogy bout against Gennady Golovkin, 40, who he drew in 2017 but beat a year later.
The Mexican comes into the fight having lost in May against WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Before the defeat, Canelo was linked with an extraordinary catchweight with Usyk, who is THREE STONE heavier.
And the four-division champion is still interested in the pound-for-pound clash.
Canelo said: “It’s difficult, but I don’t care. I like that kind of challenge.
“It’s gonna be difficult, I know, but I love boxing. I love being in that kind of situation.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
