Canelo hints at future catch-weight fights between 160 and 168 pounds

Only eight Mexicans in the history of boxing have held at least three division crowns. Canelo Alvarez hopes to become the ninth as he moves up from 160 pounds to 168 pounds in search of a third division title when he faces WBA "regular" titlist Rocky Fielding Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Canelo is expected to return to middleweight after the fight and has said he would do so during much of fight week. However, he had a slight change of tune Friday.

"It is no secret we want to win this fight and then come back to our division, 160 pounds," Alvarez said. "But we can make combinations between 160 and 168. We will see what the future has, but I can guarantee we will go back to 160 pounds.

Canelo rejected rumors on Thursday that negotiations had begun for a third fight with former unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who Alvarez handed his first loss back in September by majority decision in a highly-anticipated rematch. However, he still opened the door for a possible trilogy match.

"We had two good fights ... maybe in 2019, we can have a third fight. We'll see. Right now, I am 100 percent focused on Saturday. What I do know is I will fight in May and September next year. What I will do is give great fights to the public."

Alvarez is at least hinting here that there is the possibility of future catch-weight bouts. Canelo fought former champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at a 164-pound catch-weight in May 2017, and won a lopsided unanimous decision.

Although a majority of boxing experts are expecting Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KO's) to defeat Fielding (27-1, 15 KO's) easily, the two-division world champion is not looking past his opponent, who has knocked out three of his last six opponents since getting knocked out in a single round by WBA "Super" champion Callum Smith in November 2015.

"I never like to get overconfident, whether I am the favorite or not," said Alvarez, whose only defeat was against one of the greatest of all-time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. "To me, it is not important who is favored. For boxing, one punch can change everything; anything can happen in the ring. I get my confidence in training for what I can do in the ring."

But unlike the Chavez fight, this time there will be no catch-weight for Canelo, which is the risk.

"That's the risk, to be moving up in weight, to fight somebody who is used to fighting stronger fighters, who is used to taking stronger punches," Alvarez said. "I know the challenge, but I like the challenge, and I am happy for it."