Former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. does not see a reason for his countryman, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, to make a leap in weight to the cruiserweight division for a fight with WBC world champion Ilunga Makabu.

Canelo became the undisputed super middleweight champion back in November, when he knocked out Caleb Plant in Las Vegas.

At the World Boxing Council's annual convention in Mexico, Canelo's handlers requested permission to challenge Makabu for his WBC belt. That would required a jump from 168 to a weight class where the division limit is 200-pounds.

The Mexican star has captured world titles at junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight.

He feels motivated by the goal of capturing a world title in a fifth weight class.

Chavez Jr, who lost a one-sided twelve round decision to Canelo in 2017, gives Makabu no chance of victory - even with the size advantage.

"I think Canelo is a great boxer, one of the best in boxing," said Chavez Jr. to TV Boxeo. "I don't see the need for him to do this. He fought to win four titles in one division to become undisputed because it is making history in boxing. And now he wants to jump up to fight with a guy from another division who doesn't have a chance to beat him

"If you want to be the best in history you have to go step by step, winning the titles in each division and beating the best. This fighter [Makabu], even if he is a cruiserweight, he is not a fighter on the level of Canelo Alvarez, who is one of the best in the world."

There will be difficulties in making a fight between Canelo and Makabu. At the moment, Makabu has to make a mandatory defense of his cruiserweight title on January 29 with Thabiso Mchunu. The latter trains in South Africa, where the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was first discovered - and flights from that country to the United States are currently prohibited. Also, Makabu is promoted by Don King, who is sometimes very difficult to negotiate with.

Canelo is slated to return to the ring in May and he's exploring several other possibilities outside of Makabu.