Vanes Martirosyan: I’m just worrying about Lara's ribs and his chin

PanARMENIAN.Net - Junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan (32-0) is days away from his HBO televised WBC eliminator fight against Erislandy Lara. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to the champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, boxingscene.com reported.

WBC president Jose Suliaman said that Alvarez would have to face the Martirosyan-Lara winner in early 2013. The WBC recently modified its stance and said that Canelo will be granted an optional defense before facing his mandatory.

"I don't know if I will get him (Alvarez) after this fight but I am just concentrating on this fight. I am just worrying about Lara's ribs and his chin," Martirosyan said.

The 2004 US Olympian bashed Lara in the past but admits that he is a good fighter and that a win over the Cuban will prepare him for any of the other top junior middleweight fighters.

The Armenian fighter also gave his opinion on Alvarez and was critical of the Mexican's recent run of opponents. Martirosyan has a lot of respect for Mexican fighters but doesn't feel that Alvarez lives up to the "Warrior" label that has been applied to many Mexican fighters.

"To be honest I don't think he's a real Mexican fighter. Mexicans are warriors and he's protected. Everyone sees that. He doesn't fight the top guys and fights guys from lower weight classes. I have a lot of respect for Mexican fighters but Canelo doesn't fight any of the top guys," stated Martirosyan.