HOUSTON, TX — Earlier today (July 27), Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez wrapped their two-city press tour of Los Angeles and Houston to promote their WBC, junior middleweight title match on the September 17 undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz.
Alvarez, who turned 21 last Monday (July 18), will be making the second defense the WBC crown he won in March in a whitewash decision against an overmatched Matthew Hatton. Last month, Alvarez broke down another UK fighter, Ryan Rhodes, for a 12th round TKO in his first defense.
Alvarez declined to trade barbs with his more experienced opponent, stating his fists will be the tools that earn Gomez’s respect.
“The only thing I want to say is I will prepare 100 percent for this fight and not take him [Gomez] lightly,” Alvarez said. “I don’t like to talk too much, so I’ll keep it short. Everyone here knows the Mexican saying ‘a dog that barks, does not bite.’ On September 17, Alfonso Gomez will know who Canelo is. I do my talking with my fists in the ring because I am a man, not a clown. I’m going to show this kid who Canelo is.”
The 30-year-old Gomez has been undefeated over his last five fights, rebounding from a WBA welterweight title loss to Miguel Cotto in April 2008. His most recent victory was an impressive 2nd round KO of Calvin Green in May. The Alvarez bout is only the second title shot of Gomez’s 10 year career.
“I am going to ruin all of their [Golden Boy Promotions’ and Canelo’s] plans,” Gomez declared. “I am going to unleash this beast that is within me. From the first second I heard about this fight, I have been in the gym. This road I have been on has been too hard to take anything for granted at this point. I plan to go in and die in the ring to win this fight. I’m ready to become world champion. This is my time. This opportunity is mine and I’m going to take it.”
“Houston, he [Canelo] has a problem and his name is Alfonso Gomez. On September 17, everyone will know Alfonso Gomez as the world champion. I know Canelo trains hard and he is not a champion for nothing, but I have experience and I will be the champion of the world. Canelo, I know what I said yesterday [in Los Angeles] hurt you, but my punches will hurt more.”
Alvarez-Gomez will take place from Los Angeles’s Staples Center; the Mayweather-Ortiz main event will commence from Las Vegas’s MGM Grand. Tickets for the former are priced at $50-$300 through www.ticketmaster.com.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 