Saul “Canelo” Alvarez insists his only focus is on his September 15 WBC title defense against Josesito Lopez, but the young titlist revealed yesterday that his short list of future opponents names three of the top fighters in the sport: Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
Following a one-hour media workout that consisted of five rounds of sparring, heavy bag work and calisthenics, Canelo had the below to say about Lopez and his future plans.
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.
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We can forget about Pacquiao, whose Top Rank affiliation and disinterest in fighting again above the welterweight limit all but disqualifies him from Canelo’s list. Should Mayweather and Pacquiao continue their nonsense, Floyd would be a candidate, but unlikely until April or May of 2012. That leaves Miguel Cotto, who still has an open December 1 date and is, in my opinion, the best choice for a fan-friendly and exciting fight. If I were a betting man, that’s the fight we’ll get should Canelo take care of business on September 15.
“Knockout Kings,” headlined by Canelo Alvarez defending his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. In the co-featured attractions, WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defends his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in fight presented in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, former World Champion Marcos Maidana faces perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass in a fight presented in association with Universum Box-Promotion and Leo Santa Cruz defends his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel. The Saturday, Sept. 15 quadruple-header, packed with Mexican pride and power, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $400, $300, $150, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase. Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
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