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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
De La Hoya: "Canelo-Kovalev Is One Of The Greatest Fights
This Year On The International Boxing Scene"
By Daniel Cloutier
Photos: Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy
LAS VEGAS — The promoter of Golden Boy Promotions, the
former world champion Oscar De La Hoya, is clearly
impatient to see what will happen in this boxing show
that he organized for Saturday evening at the MGM Grand
Arena in Las Vegas.
The main event will oppose two world champions: the
Mexican Saul Canelo Alvarez (52-1-2), the WBC and WBA
middleweight (160 pounds) champion of the world, and the
Russian Sergey Kovalev (34-3-1), the WBO light
heavyweight (175 pounds) champion of the world.
Saturday, Alvarez will move up from the middleweight
division to the light heavyweight division, because it’s
the Kovalev’s world title which will be on the line.
“This match up Alvarez-Kovalev is certainly one of the
greatest fights of the year on the international boxing
scene,” said De La Hoya Wednesday afternoon at the K-2
Theater at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino. “It’s a fight
between two great world champions. I know that Canelo
got a perfect preparation for this challenge, and he is
extremely determinate to win a world title in a fourth
weight division. During my boxing career, I won world
titles in several weight division (five), and Canelo has
the same ambition. I know how much Kovalev has, but I
really like the Canelo’s chances to become WBO light
heavyweight champion of the world Saturday. He has the
motivation, the determination and the talent to do it.”
Canelo obviously appreciated De La Hoya’s comments.
“It’s true, I got a perfect preparation for this crucial
bout, and I really believe I gonna win it with my
determination, my technique and my power. It will be a
historic moment in pro boxing. I promised to my fans to
win a world title in a fourth weight division, and I
will achieve it. I know it’s a big challenge, because
Kovalev is the king of the light heavyweight division,
and it will be my first experience at 175 pounds. But
watch me when the fight will begin, I will fight with
intensity from the beginning to the end, and you will
see the result.”
Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s trainer, said: “My fighter is
clearly ready to live this historic moment. He is
prepared mentally, physically, technically and
strategically. After his win, we will celebrate the
event. We will buy a cake with four candles, to
celebrate the fact that he won a world title in a fourth
weight division.”
Obviously, Kovalev does not agree at all with the Canelo
team. “If Alvarez is perfectly prepared for this
challenge, trust me, I am too,” said Kovalev. “I got a
great training camp and I am ready for this historic
fight. Alvarez’s team believe that I am declining, they
think I will have a lack of energies if the fight is
long, but they will have a huge surprise Saturday
evening. I won impressively my last two bouts, the
rematch with the Montrealer Eleider Alvarez (Kovalev won
by unanimous decision in 12 rounds) and the fight with
the British Anthony Yarde (Kovalev won by TKO in the
11th round), and in both fights, I was very energetic. I
feel strong physically, and I know I have the technique
and the stamina to win this historic bout. My jab is
excellent and I hit solidly. I am taking Alvarez very
seriously, because we are both world champions actually.
It’s the biggest challenge of my pro boxing career, but
I really believe that this fight will make me more
popular than ever. No doubt in my mind, I will stay the
king of the light heavyweight division next week.”
Kovalev’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, said: “Alvarez will
certainly try everything possible to win this bout, but
my fighter has the experience, the determination and the
talent technically to be in the winning’s corner. I am
positive that Sergey will leave Las Vegas with the WBO
light heavyweight belt in his luggage.”
Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s promoter with Main Event, is
clearly confident to see his fighter in the winning’s
circle. “Its true that it is a historic event, but my
fighter is perfectly prepared for this challenge,” said
Duva. “Sergey is a very special athlete. He is strong
physically and he is a very talented fighter. I am
positive that he will do what is necessary to win the
fight and stay WBO light heavyweight champion of the
world.”
Thursday afternoon at the MGM Grand, Oscar De la Hoya
will organize another press conference, this time to
talk about the undercard of this boxing show televises
by DAZN.
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