In just under two weeks, on Saturday, April 14, from the Mandalay Casino in Las Vegas a junior welterweight collision will erupt between Mauricio Herrera and Mike Alvarado LIVE on HBO Pay-Per-View as part of the telecast that will feature Juan Manuel Marquez versus Sergey Fedchenko for the interim WBO Jr. welterweight championship, and Brandon Rios versus Richard Abril for the interim WBA lightweight championship.
Yesterday, we caught up with Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera at the official media work out in the heart of Hollywood, CA. Here is what he had to say:
Q: What do you know about Mike Alvarado?
A: He’s a tough fighter with a high guard. He comes forward aggressively with a lot of heart. He looks like he wants the win bad in every fight and he’s going to be tough to beat but I’m up for the challenge.
Q: Have you seen Alvarado fight before?
A: I have seen a couple of his fights before and I see a strong guy that just comes forward. He has a good “1-2” and also a good upper cut and I can tell he wants it. He’s at that age that he is not going to waste any time. He’s willing to take anybody out.
Q: What did you focus on most in order to prepare for Alvarado?
A: A little bit of everything. I am going to be ready to box him a little, fight him a little bit, get rough with him when necessary. It’s a little bit of everything. We are focused on being strong in all areas.
Q: What does a day inside your training camp look like?
A: I wake up at 6:00 am and go to the beach to run in the sand and do my drills with Jose Torres (strength and conditioning coach) Willie Silva (Trainer), my father Mauricio Herrera, Sr. and my brother Albert. Once I am done at the beach, I come back to rest for a little while then head back to the gym for another 3 hours. I rest and recharge after that.
Q: How do you feel about this being your HBO Debut?
A: I’m excited! I have been on other television networks but HBO is at the top and exactly where we really wanted to be. The fact that I am part of the HBO telecast makes me train harder. We’re about two weeks away from the fight and I am ready. Now it’s just about trimming down the last couple of pounds.
Q: Describe your style of fighting:
A: I have a bit of an awkward style of fighting. That is where I give my opponents most trouble. I think I have a good jab, I love to be an “inside” fighter and I can put pressure. I can be a mixture of a lot of things. I don’t just have one style.
Q: Talk about your love of Boxing:
A: Boxing has always been my first love; its what drives me everyday. It’s a real science and a pure sport of one-man against another. No teams, no help, just you against another guy that wants to take it all away from you. If you ask me, it’s the best sport in the world.
Q: Talk about your 10 month lay off since your last fight:
A: I’m in the gym all the time and have had other offers for fights and they didn’t come through. So I was keeping up my conditioning waiting for the right opportunity.
Q: What are your advantages in this fight?
A: He has a high guard and he poses a lot. He doesn’t create any angles and he comes straightforward at times. I will take any opportunities that I have, any openings that I will create and he will give me.
Q: In the past fights you has been the underdog, do you feel that you are the underdog for this one?
A: I don’t really think of it that way. Underdog or not, I am still going to fight. It’s not going to change anything. In my mind, if we are going to fight… it’s a fight… underdog or not. I am going for broke; I am going to Las Vegas to win!
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Mike Alvarado vs. Mauricio Herrera