Saul Alvarez says Amir Khan will be making a huge mistake if he believes he only has to elude the Mexican's power when they fight at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.
The WBC middleweight champion is making the first defence of his title when Khan, 29, steps up two weight divisions to challenge him at a catchweight of 155lbs.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya and others have often billed the fight as one which will be decided by either Khan's speed - something the challenger has also encouraged - or Alvarez's superior strength.
But despite Khan's perceived lack of punch resistance, the Mexican is adamant he is not reliant on stopping the smaller man.
"I don't go in there thinking about power," said Alvarez, an underrated boxer who insists the catchweight is ideal for his build.
"There's a lot more to me than just power. When you see me in the ring on Saturday night you'll find out.
"I already have a lot of experience but the best is yet to come. I'm 25 years old, I've had a good career and the best is yet to come. I want to fight for the next 10 years which will be better than my first 10 years.
"I feel comfortable at 154lbs. I know I'm fighting for the 160lbs title but that one extra pound is lighter on my body and I feel better.
"While I am at this weight I will not fight someone who weighs 160lbs - that would be an advantage to the opponent - why would I give them that advantage?"
Khan's trainer Virgil Hunter, who has significantly improved him as a fighter since Khan's split from the respected Freddie Roach after his defeat by Danny Garcia in 2012, has spoken of his admiration for his fighter in the way he has rebuilt his career to feature in such a significant fight.
The loss to Garcia was Khan's second in succession, strengthened the long-term view he has a weak chin, and was followed shortly after by his career stalling in his unsuccessful pursuit of a fight with Floyd Mayweather.
Hunter said: "(Khan's) a young man that's been through so much adversity in his career.
"(He's) been counted out, criticised for his supposed weaknesses, but here he is, willing to step up two weight classes, and then some.
"To prove he got into this sport to leave a legacy, to prove he fears no one. I learned that really early about him. Most people who go through what he's gone through get gun shy, but I was amazed, the first time I ever saw him spar, the attitude he had, man, I didn't understand it.
"(If) you've been through these situations it feels like you'd duck every time a punch comes at you but he'll walk right into the face of adversity.
"It's a pleasure for me to stand by his side in the face of obvious danger from a great fighter."
Source: PA
