Photos: Margarito, Alvarez Get Tense - Ready For Mexican War

By Miguel Rivera

The stage is set. The official weighin took place for the all-Mexican war between Antonio 'Tijuana Tornado' Margarito and Ramon 'Inocente' Alvarez. The two boxers will collide at Centro De Convenciones in Rosarito, Baja California.

Alvarez struggled a tiny and needed to step on the scale for a second time to make the junior middleweight limit of 154. Margarito was bang on the limit, coming at 154 on his first attempt.

Margarito (39-8, 27 KO) is taking part in only his second fight since announcing his retirement in December 2011 after getting stopped in his rematch with Miguel Cotto. He snapped his retirement in March with a very tough win over Jorge Paez Jr. Margarito was dropped hard in the contest, but he managed to survive and fought his way to a ten round unanimous decision win.

'Inocente' Alvarez has not lost in his last 10 outings in the ring, including nine victories, eight of them by knockout, and one no contest after a head clash. Alvarez has been preparing hard with his younger brother, Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

 Alvarez predicts the end is near for Margarito, and that end will come by way of a knockout defeat.

"I think this Saturday will be his retirement, because he's going to realize the reality of things - and it's not because he is old as people say, because there are fighters who are 40 and are very successful - but Margarito has been physically worn down and he's not doing very well. He should think of his physical integrity, his family, his life, but he was given the nod by the doctors," said Alvarez (23-4-2, 15 KO).

"I would not be surprised if I knock him out, because I really feel strong and too good and in truth it would not surprise me. I'm prepared for 12 rounds, I prepared well in that regard. The fight is not going to get to the judges. Paez lacked experience, he was unable to finish him. I will be ready and I will not let him get away. This is a different situation. I'm a natural super welterweight and Paez was moving up. I feel I can knock him out."

FULL WEIGHTS

Antonio Margarito 154 lbs, *Ramón Álvarez 154 lbs

Pedro  Campa 141 lbs, David Bency  142.5 lbs

Jaime Munguia 148 lbs Ramiro Alcaraz 147 lbs

Julio Barraza  132 lbs, Marco Antonio Juárez 132 lbs

Emanuel Navarrete122 lbs, Eleazar Valenzuela 122 lbs

Samuel Garibaldi 137 lbs, Bryan Zamarripa 137 lbs

Jorge García 147 lbs, Iván Gutiérrez 147  lbs

Rigoberto Hermosillo 128 lbs, Enrique Flóres 128 lbs

Sandra Robles 108 lbs, María Martínez 108 lbs