Amir Khan vs Canelo Alvarez: Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya have words of warning for smaller Khan

Holyfield and De La Hoya both competed and wn titles at multiple weights, with Khan looking to defeat Avlarez after stepping up to middleweight

Oscar De La Hoya (Getty)

Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya have explained the adversity Amir Khan will have to overcome if he is to succeed in defeating WBC middleweight champion Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 29-year-old remains the major underdog because of Alvarez's status as one of the world's finest fighters and the fact he has stepped up two weight divisions to challenge him at a catchweight of 155lbs.

Holyfield made the successful transition from cruiserweight to win world titles as a heavyweight during the division's last true glamour era in the 1990s and De La Hoya won world titles from super-featherweight to middleweight, an ultimate weight difference of 30lbs.

They spoke of the difficulty of watching a bigger opponent absorb punches, of the increased tactical emphasis involved, and of the mental strain of being the smaller fighter.

Khan won world titles at light-welterweight having turned professional as a lightweight, but on Saturday Alvarez is expected to outweigh him by 10lbs, and of being in that position, Holyfield said: "You get them with two or three shots, and they're still looking at you.

"So you've got to make adjustments - you've always got to make adjustments - knowing where to be at (in the ring to evade danger).

"It hurts (to take punches), but you've got to act like it didn't hurt. It's one of those things where you've got to have desire to go through that."


 Khan will face Alvarez this Saturday night 
 (Getty)

De La Hoya, the promoter for Saturday's fight, added: "You have to realise that when you hit the guy, he's still going to be there.

"You hit the guy and you can't stay there, you've got to hit the guy and move, hit the guy and move, and you've got to frustrate him.

"You have to know how to outsmart him, how to rely on your brain to win the fight. You can't rely on your punching power anymore: it's more tactical.

"(Khan's definitely one of my favourite fighters, (because) he dares to be great."


 Oscar De La Hoya won titles from super-featherweight to middleweight (Getty)
 (Getty Images)

Bernard Hopkins, a world champion at middleweight and light-heavyweight, spoke earlier in the week of his respect for Khan in taking what so many view as such a dangerous fight, but the American has warned he may lack the mobility and discipline to elude Alvarez as he will need to.

Hopkins said: "He's got heavy feet, he doesn't use his feet as fast as his hands, he stays in the pocket.

"Amir Khan is such a fighter, and such a warrior, that he will forget the plan. I think he will go back to what he's always been: a guy that wants to fight."

PA