(From Left to Right) Actor/Comedian Gary Shandling, President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar de la Hoya, WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez and Actor/Director Peter Berg pose on August 29, 2012 in Santa Monica, California during a media workout in preparation for Alvarez’s September 15, 2012 world title defense against Josesito Lopez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada which will be televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing.
Incredibly popular Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez participated in a spirited open media workout Wednesday at TSB-44 in Santa Monica, Calif. as he prepares to defend his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against upset-minded breakout star Josesito Lopez in the main event of “Knockout Kings” on Mexican Independence Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 15, live on SHOWTIME ® (9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
In front of a jam-packed gym working with trainer Chepo Reynoso and co-trainer Eddy Reynoso, the undefeated champion hit the heavy bags, performed calisthenic exercises, shadowboxed and sparred for five rounds during an intense one-hour workout.
Here’s what Canelo, his trainer, and Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said Wednesday:
CANELO ALVAREZ
“Every fight there’s more and more pressure and more and more attention on me. The way I deal with it is to take it one fight at a time. Keep training and trying to get bigger every day. I want to learn and I’m still learning.
“I don’t want to say I’m the best, but I am a world champion and I want to fight the best. I’d love to fight guys like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, but first I have to get past Josesito.
“This is going to be a tough fight and a great fight for the fans. Josesito has a great chin. I feel I’ll have to work him little by little and throw my best combinations to hurt him.
“He’s my opponent and he’s definitely earned the opportunity for this fight. He’s durable, he’s dangerous and he’s coming to win. He’s coming to win and to take my belt.
“I’m not even thinking of the $100,000 knockout bonus. I just want to win convincingly for all my fans. I’m dedicating this fight to them.
“My sole focus is on Sept. 15. Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend is a very big responsibility for me.
“Working in Santa Monica at this gym has been great. Everything has gone perfectly. I’ve had good sparring and I’ve been working with guys that are similar in size and style to Josesito.
“I’m relaxed and I feel no pressure. It’s different for me now than it used to be. I don’t have as much private time to myself; people know me and recognize me, but I fight for the people, my fans.
“I’m looking for a big win so that fans can celebrate happily and properly on Mexican Independence Day weekend. This is a very important date. I hope the fans come out and support us. This is a big night and I’m really looking forward to the fight.”
All Photos by Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos
