This is a party’: Mexican boxing fans show their passion ahead of big bout

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L.E. Baskow

Fans cheer as they wait to enter the official weigh-in event for the Canelo Alvarez versus Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, May 5, 2017.

Sat, May 6, 2017 (2 a.m.)

Fans at Canelo vs. Chavez Jr. Weigh-in

Fans sing and dance as they wait to enter the official weigh-in event for the Canelo Alvarez versus Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, May 5, 2017. Launch slideshow »

Alvarez and Chavez Jr. Weigh-in

Canelo Alvarez, left, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. pose for photographers during a weigh-in Friday, May 5, 2017, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight Saturday in Las Vegas. Launch slideshow »

Thousands of Mexican flag-toting fans in red, white and green crammed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena Friday afternoon for what was less of a boxing weigh-in than a rousing Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

The throngs chanted, sang and danced for nearly two hours inside the arena while they waited for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to step onto the scales.

Both fighters eventually made the 164.5-pound limit, but it was merely a side note to the event.

“You have two of the top Mexican fighters and this is a party,” said Jesus Sanchez, who drove with his friends from Los Angeles to see the fight. “It’s an event in itself. The energy was so charged in there with the mariachis and everything.”

Fans were lined up at the MGM box office will call to pick up their reserved tickets since about 8 a.m. Those who didn’t get tickets early had to wait in a separate line that wrapped around the outside of the arena and stretched more than 200 feet down the street.

There were fans wearing face paint, boxing gloves and Mexican flags draped over their shoulders. Some in mariachi gear whipped out instruments to entertain those desperately waiting hours for a glimpse of Alvarez and Chavez Jr.

“It was all worth it,” said Eddie Velasquez, who also drove from Los Angeles. He will be watching the fight at one of the MGM Grand’s closed-circuit television parties Saturday night. “It’s going to be a good fight. They both go forward so there’s going to be blood.”

Velasquez exited the building proudly holding a boxing glove covered in sharpie. He bought the blank glove at the MGM and was able to get signatures from Mexican boxing greats Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain and Marco Antonio Berrera, as well as Lucas Matthysse, who is fighting on Saturday night’s undercard.

“It’s really big because it will determine who is Mexico’s best boxer,” said Olga Avila, who drove out from San Diego to watch the fight. “It was the best experience ever, and I know Canelo is going to win,” she said, proudly pointing to her Canelo T-shirt.

Surprisingly, the majority of the crowd was rooting for Chavez Jr. Thousands chanted his name while wearing “Chavez Jr.” bandanas tightly tied around their foreheads and hoisting signs as he made the walk to the stage.

Alvarez looked to be in outstanding shape as he stepped on the scale 9.5 pounds heavier than he ever has in his 50-fight career.

The two will finally square off in the highly anticipated bout tonight at T-Mobile Arena. The HBO pay-per-view begins at 7 p.m., as does our live coverage.

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