Former Champ Tarver has warning for Canelo Saturday night

With World Middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez getting set to take on WBO Light Heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev in Las Vegas, a former Undisputed 175 lbs. champ has a warning for Alvarez.

Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver was a guest on our Big Fight Weekend podcast helping preview Saturday night’s attempt by Alvarez to gain a fourth world title in a fourth different weight division:

With #CaneloKovalev coming up later tonight in Vegas. Checkout @bigfightweekend podcast with THE @AntonioTarver + @TheBoxingWriter @TCMartin21 and @weaksauceradio:https://t.co/dGwdAYTZu7

— TJ Rives (@BucSidelineGuy) November 3, 2019

Tarver who experienced moving up in weight to Cruiserweight and eventually heavy weight after having been a Light Heavyweight throughout his amateur and professional career knows the Canelo has to be wary of the 36 year old Russian Champions power,

“When you look at Canelo being the lighter fighter, he’s gonna be more active. He’s gonna let his hands go… But, if Kovalev lands that right hand on Canelo, it could be ‘Good Night, Irene’ at one time.

He (Canelo) ‘aint used to being hit by a guy who can ‘Crack.’ We know that one of the last things to goes on a fighter is his power. And, if Kovalev lands one of those, I believe it’s good night.”

Hear full comments from Tarver during the podcast:

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Kovalev has registered 29 Knockouts in his 34 wins, and that includes his 11th round stoppage of Anthony Yarde in August. That’s where he dramatically landed one solid straight left jab in the 11th round on Yarde coming in, and his challenger could not get up in time.

Obviously, Alvarez has packed a big punch himself earlier in his career, but likewise, there’s a concern about weather he will be able to effectively get close to and even hurt a bigger Kovalev or anyone else at the greater weight. On that point, Tarver said,

“I think his speed is a real issue for Kovalev. Canelo has really turned into a complete fighter and if he can get inside on Kovalev and have success, it could be a long night for Kovalev.”

So, it’s a quandary, too: can Alvarez successfully get close to score, but stay away from  Kovalev’s potential big shot?

And what happens if he does get hit?

Almost time to find out.