Mexican superstar and WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez held a media workout on Thursday at the jam-packed Wild Card West in Santa Monica, Calif., in preparation for his world championship unification showdown against undefeated WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Austin Trout taking place on Saturday, April 20, live on SHOWTIME. The 12-round Super Welterweight World Championship Unification from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas is for Canelo’s WBC title, Trout’s WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine title.
The throng of media members at Wild Card West was just a warm-up for what Canelo can expect in San Antonio when he faces the toughest opponent of his career at the 30,000-plus seat Alamodome later this month. Joining Canelo on Thursday at Wild Card West was manager Chepo Reynoso, trainer Eddy Reynoso and President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya.
The pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, the 22-year-old Canelo Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KO’s) is a superstar in Mexico and one of the biggest draws in boxing. He has successfully defended his title five times, most recently with victories in 2012 over “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Josesito Lopez.
Long considered one of boxing’s most underrated fighters, Las Cruces, New Mexico’s Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-0, 14 KO’s), 27, is coming off of a career-best victory over Puerto Rican legend and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden last December.
Here’s what the participants had to say on Thursday:
CANELO ALVAREZ
“The more intelligent fighter is going to win on April 20. We’ve mapped out a game plan and we’ll stick to it. I’ve looked back at some of my past fights and I’m critical of how I’ve performed. I’ve taken criticism, but all criticism is constructive and I’m taking it all in.
“Because he beat my brother and took his belt, this fight has more meaning. It’s personal, because he took something from us. After I win this fight, I’m going to get that belt and I’m going to give it to my brother.
“I’m really excited for the San Antonio fans, as well as all the Mexican fans who will be there supporting me. I’m hoping I can give them a great fight.
“The key for me is patience. I know he’ll be ready for me at all times. It’s going to be a complicated fight, but I’m prepared for it.
“I’m not concerned about talking about (Floyd) Mayweather or anyone else. I’m just focused on this fight. If he didn’t want to sign [to fight me], that’s on him. After this fight we will talk about Mayweather and whoever else.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
“This is going to be a very physical fight. Austin Trout is legitimate. He is undefeated. He is strong. I think that whoever wins this fight is going to shoot up like a star and go to the next level. It’s a tough fight for both. I expect a really, really tough fight.
“What I see is the potential for whoever wins this fight to be a superstar. Not just a star or just a champion, but a superstar. Canelo is on the right path and April 20 is going to show us if he’s able to make that jump. Canelo’s destiny is in his own hands and it’s up to him to win the fight.
“This reminds me when I beat Ike Quartey. Although I did have all the admirers and the fans, I needed that one win to solidify me as a great champion. This is his one moment, but he has his work cut out for him. Austin Trout is the real deal. He’s no joke, but if you want to beat the best you have to fight the best. I’ve said that throughout my whole career.
“I think San Antonio is a great fight town. The fans there have been asking for a great fight. They haven’t had a big fight there since Chavez-Whitaker. I fought there, but they haven’t had a big, big world championship fight in some time.”
thanks Mike! I do love the sport!
Edgar,
This website is surely to become a very popular website ,you have created. I am certain this will make you a very wealthy man someday, not that it is your goal, i can tell you love this sport as much as I. However making money is also a very good by product of this venture. I have spread the word that your site is the place for boxing fans to gather and have unbiased discussions with each other as well as the host of the website. I was felling really good last Friday evening ,when I saw this flash from Peru, let the Russian give him his very first boxing lesson. This was a simple proof that will always wins over flash. Maybe the kid from peru should stick to dancing with the stars as now his chin is as suspect as his boxing ability. I would like to say that Mayweather is going to get his first boxing lesson on showtime, I just have this gut feeling that Robert is on top of his game at this point in time and he will give mayweather much more than mayweather can handle. I also think that if camilo fights mayweather he should insist it be done in a phone booth to ,teach mayweather running and hiding is not boxing. It is simply running and hiding. I think he learn that tactic from the master , Hopkins.
wow Mike, with the experience you have to say Canelo is good… that means alot..
I too like Canelo. And unlike Chavez Jr. he (Canelo) has fought better opponents than chavez.
I have been watching boxing for over 50 years ,have seen the very best come and go. I study the styles and then mentally match the two fighters up in my mind. I see the strengths as well as the weaknesses in the boxers themselves, not just the physical aspects but the mental aspects of each fighter. I watched chavez as he rose and fell,watched salvador sanchez and boom boom mancini. Got to see Norton break ali,s jaw,and foreman fall to ali. Of all the boxers I have ever had the pleasure to watch in his craft . Alverez is without a doubt one of the best I have ever seen. At this point in time ,he is simply unbeatable. He can take his star as high as he wants it to go,there is no hype, no splash,no flash in this man. He has studied the art of boxing and become a honor student in his art. He reminds me of the race car driver dale sr. who said many times of the drafting which he was a master, that he could feel the wind outside the car. Alverez feels punches before they land, incoming and out going. He is the ohter boxer in the ring,he fights ,himself. With those tools ,I feel as long as his desire is so great,his drive is motivated he is simply ,unstoppable.
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