Easygoing Canelo Álvarez gets serious as he climbs another weight division

Mexican fighter, who stands just 5ft 8in, prepares to take on Dmitry Bivol for his WBA light-heavyweight title in Las Vegas

WALKING TALL: Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol pose at the pre-fight press conference in San Diego.

THERE was a moment on Tuesday When Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, the comedian, set the tone yet again in Las Vegas. After all the hoopla and noise of his “grand arrival” in this gaudy old desert town, Álvarez smiled and turned quietly to his promoter Eddie Hearn. Álvarez is ready for his latest challenge as he prepares to climb yet another weight division to fight Dmitry Bivol for his WBA world light-heavyweight title on Saturday night. The jaunty Mexican band kept playing in the background and hundreds of cameras stayed fixed on Álvarez. But the best fighter in the world wanted a little laugh at his own expense.

Álvarez took a menacing step towards Hearn as if he, rather than Bivol, would be his next opponent after he became the undisputed world super‑middleweight champion last September. But being the unified champion is not enough. He relinquished his belts so he could move up to face Bivol, the smartest and most technically proficient light-heavyweight in the world.