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Canelo Alvarez Teleconference Transcript
Canelo Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) hosted an international
media conference call today ahead of his highly anticipated
fight against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs).
Joined by his team, world renowned Eddy and Chepo Reynoso as
well as the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya,
Alvarez opened up about his preparation for the fight, the
rivalry between him and Chavez, Jr. and what fans can expect
come Cinco De Mayo Weekend, live from T-Mobile Arena and
presented by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Here is what Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya, Eddy and
Chepo Reynoso said during the international media conference
call:
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
We're very happy, thank you very much to the media from all
over the world. We are roughly less than 30 days away from
the big event, Canelo vs. Chavez, which will take place on
the Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 6 at the brand new,
state-of-the-art, T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas.
Just to let you know, the response has been unbelievable. We
haven't had a Mexican showdown on Cinco de Mayo weekend in a
very, very long time. And the demand has been incredible. I
haven't seen anything like it since Barrera vs. Morales;
since De La Hoya vs. Chavez, Sr. This is going to be an
incredible weekend for all boxing fans.
I would like to thank the best partner in the business, who
is HBO, for being our broadcaster for this incredible event.
At this moment, let me take the opportunity to thank our
sponsors: Tecate, BORN BOLD, Hennessey, O'Reilly Auto Parts,
Adriana's Insurance and Interjet, which will be doing a
massive, massive, marketing pitch on a global scale, which
has been unheard of in the sport. They have created several
different spots and commercials, which will be kicking in
during the next few days.
We have created a special commercial for the actual fight,
which should be a huge surprise to many. It will be a
commercial that transcends the sport of boxing. And
obviously, it's because of the two fighters who are
involved.
This fight is not only a fight for the boxing fans, but also
a fight that casual sports fans have really been behind and
supporting because of their careers, because of their
records. So we're really, really excited as you can hear.
Also, we will be having the Canelo's media workout on
Wednesday, April 19 at the House of Boxing in San Diego.
More details will follow, so you want to stay tuned. One
thing about Canelo, he's been very courteous to the media.
He opens up his camp. He lets people in every single day, so
the media can follow his every move so they can be part of
the fight, so we want to thank Team Canelo.
On that note, it is my pleasure to introduce to you team
Canelo. First off, I would like to introduce to you the
manager and trainer of Canelo, his manager, Jose "Chepo"
Reynoso.
JOSE "CHEPO" REYNOSO, Manager and Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:
Hello, everybody. Good afternoon to everybody.
I'm very happy how camp is going and training is going, and
we're anxious and ready to give everybody a spectacular
performance on May 6.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Also at this time I would like to
introduce to you the trainer of Canelo Alvarez, who has been
doing an incredible, incredible job. We have seen the
progression, his growth, his speed, his power, which has
been unbelievable, at the tender age of 26 years old. I
would like to introduce to you the trainer, Eddy Reynoso.
EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer of Canelo Alvarez: Good morning
to everybody that's listening. We're doing very well. We're
training very hard, and we're just anxious and ready for May
6.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: At this moment, I would like to introduce
to you the young man who at the tender age of 26 years old
has already accomplished more than 99 percent of the
fighters -- which fighters achieve in their entire career.
He's a two-time division world champion at both the junior
middleweight and middleweight doubles. He has had his hand
raised in victory 48 times with 34 knockouts. You know, he
has taken all comers and has defeated almost every single
one, including Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, Austin Trout,
champions like Sugar Shane Mosley, the spectacular knockout
against James Kirkland, the masterful boxer Erislandy Lara;
the list goes on and on and on, and he's only 26 years old.
It is my pleasure to introduce to you, taking on Chavez, Jr.
on May 6, this is Canelo Alvarez.
CANELO ALVAREZ,Former Two-Division World Champion: Good
afternoon to everybody. Just want to say thank you, once
again, for supporting another one of our fights, and for
being here. I am looking forward to do what I always do:
train hard, 100 percent focus and ready to give you guys all
a great performance.
Q. Canelo, is Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. the first of the 50
opponents that you feel you want to rip his head off?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, he's one more of the 50 of all my
opponents that I've faced. I've wanted to rip their head
off; I wanted to beat them; I wanted to them knock them out.
This is a little extra. There's a little bit more
motivation, of course, because of the rivalry, but it's
another one of my fights.
Q. Eddy, what's the most difficult part of facing Chavez,
Jr.? Is it the weight, the strength, the technique, or his
strength?
EDDY REYNOSO: Well, the most difficult part of facing Chavez
is that he's Mexican. And anytime you have a fight between
two Mexicans, it's a guaranteed spectacular fight and brings
out that extra in a fighter, and makes it that much tougher
and guarantees the war.
Q. Oscar, as far as the Pay-Per-View, with all the
expectation and people expecting this great fight and
waiting for this great fight, what do you expect the
Pay-Per-View to be in the US?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: We're very happy with how it's going.
Obviously the way the tickets sold out and now Pay-Per-View,
closed circuit is opening it up. MGM is opening up more
properties for closed circuit. Won't give you a number now,
but we're very happy and we can see that it's going to do
very well and break some records.
Q. Canelo, I know you have had world titles before and
you've been a champion multiple times but this is not a
title fight. In your opinion, is this even a bigger fight
than any defense or world title or fighting for a world
title, just because of the pride that's at stake? And how
significant is this fight to you and your fans and pretty
much all the Mexican boxing fans; is the pride almost a
bigger deal than a world title?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Titles are very important to me but this is
above that. This goes above a title, any title. It's for
honor, for pride, and it's very important for me. And to
keep making history in my career.
Q. Oscar, I was wondering if you could address that, also.
You were in a lot of fights in your career against other
Mexican opponents, Mexican-American opponents, whether it
was Genaro Hernandez or Rafael Ruelas, or certainly your
huge fights with Julio, Senior. Can you speak to what Canelo
is talking about, that maybe the pride and the glory for
Mexico, that sort of attitude is perhaps even a bigger deal
to the Mexican boxers than having a title at stake, or maybe
even the money, for all I know. What are your thoughts about
that?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: These are the types of fights that take
you to a whole new level in terms of your boxing abilities
inside the ring. It makes you obviously train harder. It
gives you that extra motivation. If you want to go run ten
miles today, well, guess what, you're going to run 11 or 12
because you're just so amped, because this fight is so
personal.
And look, both fighters are going to be in the best shape of
their life. But for some strange reason, there's something
extra that comes out in you. You know, Canelo and Chavez,
Jr. are going to find out that, wow, I didn't know I can do
this move; or I didn't know I can throw this combination at
such a fast pace; or, you know, that extra motivation, it's
going to be all instinctual. It's going to be all because of
that pride, because of what's at stake.
We're going to see two completely different fighters,
fighters that we've never seen before inside the ring on May
6, and it's all because of that pride that's at stake.
Q. Could you rate this among other big-time all Mexico
fights, whether it's Barrera and Morales as you mentioned in
your opening remarks, or certainly the fights between,
Barrera and Marquez? There's been a lot of great Mexicans
that fought each other, but obviously fights that you were
involved in against other Mexican fighters, can you put it
in any kind of context for me?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, in terms of action, inside the ring,
yes, I would say kind of like Barrera - Morales. But in
terms of the event, of how big it is, I cannot remember a
fight against two Mexicans that has created so much
interest, anticipation. So this is probably the biggest
boxing event with two Mexican fighters.
Q. Canelo, You're going up quite a bit in weight compared to
your typical fighting weight. I wonder if you can talk
about, what's been the biggest factor in that and how do you
feel putting on that weight, and how do you think he'll take
your power at the new weight?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I've been feeling very good. I've been
training with sparring partners who are much bigger, who are
light heavyweights that are much bigger than me. I'm feeling
very comfortable, and very strong. I'm not having to
dehydrate as much. I'm still having to go down in weight
because I'm above the weight that the fight is scheduled at,
but I don't have to dehydrate totally. We'll see come fight
night how I feel, how the body adapts. I'm a fighter that
knows how to adapt to the situations, and my body adapts
well. I'm just anxious and looking forward to giving the
public a beautiful fight, a great fight, come May 6.
Q. He quit against Andrzej Fonfara; Oscar gave his father
quite the trouble in their rematch. Do you think you can
make this guy quit?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Everything's possible in boxing and as the
great Bernard Hopkins once said: "Once a quitter, always a
quitter." So anything's possible.
Q. Canelo, what do you think about the pictures that Chavez,
Jr. has been posting? What do you think of his conditioning,
his physical being now, and do you think that he seems to be
posting these pictures to try to clean the image of his past
performance with his training regimens?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, it doesn't bother me at all. It doesn't
intimidate me. Look, I've been fighting professionally since
I was 15 years old, so I've been fighting bigger and
stronger guys.
On the contrary, I'm very happy that he's working hard, that
he's training hard and that he's doing good, because you
know what, that's guarantees the people a great fight. I'm
doing my thing like I always do. I have my conditioning. I'm
feeling strong and I'm looking good. But I'm glad that he
is, as well.
Q. Is the bet still on that you guys made?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, his dad didn't let him.
Q. I was interested in knowing, what is your history in
knowing and talking to Chavez, Jr. personally? How far back
does the rivalry go and how have you always perceived him as
a person?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Well, this rivalry goes back about ten
years, you know, to our time in Guadalajara. They had the
opportunity to make this fight years ago. They had the power
to make this fight back then. They didn't want to.
As a person, you know, I don't know him well, but just from
what I hear from his actions and all, it's like a guy that
just doesn't sustain what he says. You know, he just says a
lot of things. It's almost like he's a little kid.
Q. Canelo, you like Oscar, have overcome earlier in your
career the idea that you're a pretty boy and not a true
Mexican Warrior. So as things stand right now, how do you
gauge the temperature of the Mexican public as to whether
they will be supporting you or Chavez, Jr. in this fight?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, my fans are there. My fans know that I
started from nothing, from the bottom up, from zero, and
have worked my way up with a lot of sweat and sacrifices.
He has his fans, as well. But I think a lot of his fans are
more his father's fans than his, and his fans follow his
father, what his father says, because he's shown a lot of
ups and downs in his career, and he himself has not had a
real disciplined career. He is not a role model for the
young children and the young fighters. And you know what,
I've always said, whether I have 1,000, 5,000, 20,000 or
millions, I'm very fortunate. I'm very happy and I'm very
appreciative of my fans and I'll give them 100 percent all
the time.
Q. This motivation that Chavez, Jr. is showing in his camp,
his training and his talking, does that bother you? Do you
appreciate it? What do you think about that, because
obviously he seems highly motivated for this fight against
you?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I hope so. I hope everything we're hearing
is true, and that he is training extra hard and extra
motivated, because that just makes me happy. That makes me
happy because that just means we're going to give the
public, the fans, a beautiful fight.
Q. We know you prepare yourself very good. We know you
prepare yourself 100 percent and you're always training hard
to go the distance and prepare for the 12 rounds, but do you
think this fight will go the 12 rounds?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, there's a very high percentage this
fight could end by a knockout, because of our styles,
obviously the weight, the size of each other. And obviously
a knockout is spectacular, for the fighter, for the fans,
and we'll see.
We'll see what's going to happen come the fight, and we're
going to give it 100 percent to do everything possible to
give the fans what they want.
Q. Oscar, Triple G is most likely going to be out till the
fall. It looks like he's not going to be fighting this June
10 fight in Kazakhstan. Are you pleased by that in terms of
possibly making the fight with Triple G and Canelo for the
fall?
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: All my focus is on Canelo and Chavez, Jr.
I actually didn't even know he was not going to fight in
June. That's obviously a great indication. But all focus is
on this fight.
Q. Canelo, do you view this match up with Chavez, Jr. in any
way as preparation for the eventual fight with Golovkin,
just in terms of his size and style?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, not at all. This is just another fight
and it's a very important fight for me, and I'm not focusing
on any other fighter but the fight that I have in front of
me.
Q. You've mentioned in a couple interviews that it bothers
you that Chavez, Jr. talks so much behind your back, but
when he's face-to-face with you, doesn't say much. Is that
an extra motivation for come fight night to shut him up?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Yes, obviously it motivates me and I'm just
waiting, waiting for May 6. I'm building up because come May
6, I'm going to let it all out.
Q. What is it that worries you most or concerns you more
with Chávez Jr., his punch, or what is it?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I mean, obviously we have a strategy
and I can't say it now. Sometimes you build on that: Bell
rings, the first round and that goes out the window and
you've got to adapt to something else. And that's what we're
doing: We're working hard, we're preparing, we're training
hard to come in with a plan and see how he brings it and we
can adapt to it.
Q. What does it feel like to train at this heavy weight?
From the outside looking in, you sound happier and livelier
on this conference call alone. Has it been an easier
transition than going into training camp having to worry
about cutting weight?
CANELO ALVAREZ: You know what, I'm always real happy. I'm
always -- I'm normally a tranquil person.
But obviously in this fight, I don't have to go down as many
pounds, the weight. But it's part of me. It's my character.
I'm always a happy person. I love what I do.
Q. If you cause Chavez Jr. to quit or you administer a very
severe beating to him, will any part of you feel sad for his
father?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I don't think of that. I don't even
give it a thought. It's something that doesn't even cross my
mind. Look, I've got to go in there, do my job, and do what
I have to do. And that's part of boxing, to hurt your
opponent and beat your opponent more than he can beat you.
So that's what I'm focused on, going in there and winning
and beating him.
Q. Your trainers, Eddy and Chepo, they do a tremendous job,
but they don't always get the recognition. Why do you think
that is?
CANELO ALVAREZ: I don't know. I really don't know and
understand it. The trainer is a trainer, is a man, a
person,that gets a fighter that doesn't even know how to
throw a jab, that doesn't even know how to walk and teaches
them.
Now, on the other side, when a trainer gets a fighter that's
already made and all they have to do is conditioning, those
are conditioning coaches, not trainers.
And Eddy and Chepo, when I started with them, I didn't even
know how to throw a jab, and they taught me. Those are
trainers.
Q. Is there any concern with Team Canelo with Chavez, Jr.
training with "Nacho" Beristain and any strategy he might
implement come May 6?
CANELO ALVAREZ: No, not at all. There's no worries
whatsoever. I'm a fighter that's already been made; a
fighter that -- how much more can you teach him.
Sure, he can get him in great shape and give him a couple
words of advice.
I have the best trainers, the best corner in the world. So
we just have to worry and focus about ourselves, get in
great condition and doing our work, and obviously when we
get to the fight, we'll see.
Q. Why do you think that the majority of the experts have
you as a big favorite against Chavez, Jr.?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Because they know. They know based on my
history, my discipline, my abilities, my talent, and
obviously all the experts see that and they know.
Q. Chavez, Jr. made a declaration that he was sort of
confused as to why the anti-dope tests have been one way;
that maybe Canelo was hiding something. What do you have to
say about that?
CANELO ALVAREZ: What he's saying is very stupid. Simply put,
very stupid. Because we're talking about the top agency, a
very professional -- whether they do blood, whether they do
urine, whatever they do, they know what they are doing.
And I haven't tested positive, ever, in my career, and he's
tested two or three times. So he should shut up and worry
about himself and stop saying those stupid things.
Q. I just wanted to ask, being that this fight is taking
place at a higher weight, do you now consider yourself a
true middleweight and do you consider yourself the
Middleweight Champion of the World?
CANELO ALVAREZ: Look, I'm not a current world champion at
middleweight. I have been in the past, but I'm not now.
And as far as the weight, after this fight, I'm not looking
past this fight. I'm focused 100 percent on this fight, but
I'm now staying at middleweight. I'll stay at 160 pounds.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you very much and this concludes our
call. A reminder to all the media, we will host Canelo's
final media day at the House of Boxing in San Diego, and
more details to follow.
Again tickets are going extremely fast for closed circuit,
which is a good indication everybody is excited, so we will
see you May 6. And some closing comments from Canelo and we
will end the call.
CANELO ALVAREZ: I want to thank all of you for all the
support you've given in the promotion. I'll see you all on
April 19 for the public workout and then during the fight
week for May 6. I want to see all the people there in
support. Thank you so much.
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