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Alvarez vs. Cintron & Broner
Teleconference Quotes
“We Didn’t Pick Cintron For Canelo Because We Think He’s
Past His Prime.”
By Barbara Pinnella
After Oscar de la Hoya welcomed us to the call, he told us
that Canelo is ready for the tough challengers; for all
those who try to derail the “Canelo Express.” The main event
with Alvarez against Cintron will be held in Mexico City.
SAUL “CANELO” ALVAREZ
‘I’m here and ready. We had a great training camp. Now I
just have to worry about making weight, but I’m ready for
Cintron.”
He was asked about his fight with Alfonzo Gomez. “I felt
good in the Gomez fight,” he said.” I didn’t stick to my
game plan but still won. But Cintron is bigger and stronger,
and he’s a better fighter than Gomez. I’m not thinking about
making a statement, I’m just going to do my job.”
We will have a top Mexican fighter going up against a top
Puerto Rican fighter, so what about Mexican pride, does that
bring any higher level of motivation? “Well yes, I am
motivated. But more than anything I’m motivated by the level
of competition that Kermit brings. He’s a tough fighter, but
I’ve prepared well.”
That preparation includes practicing those things that
Alvarez needs to improve on to continue to grow as a
fighter. “I’ve been working at sitting down on my punches a
little more and being a little more stable in my footwork.
Also working on my head movement. I look at a lot of videos
and am working at correcting mistakes I’ve done in the
past.”
Canelo does not feel that he has to win convincingly. “I
just have to win. I don’t worry about all that other stuff
(opinions).”
Finally, he was asked for his view of the Pacquiao / Marquez
fight. “It was a good fight, I don’t think there was any
wrong-doing. Maybe they give Pacquiao a little more credit
because of his name.”
Yes, the young man knows how to choose his words.
KERMIT “THE KILLER” CINTRON
The only opponent that had done real damage to Cintron was
Antonio Margarito. Understandably, this question had to come
up. Did Kermit think that Antonio’s gloves were loaded in
that last fight with Tony?
“Only he knows, but it sure made him look bad. Do I have
questions about it, yes, but I have no proof. Margarito was
the only fighter to hurt and cut me. Cotto and I both ended
up the same way. I’m a clean fighter.”
This fight means a lot to Cintron. “I was shocked when I
first got the call. I’m definitely ready for him. I come in
well-prepared. I’m in great shape. I’ve been thru ups and
downs, but Canelo hasn’t had that experience I’ve had. I’m
coming to take his title away from him. I feel I’m a better
fighter than he is. I have to prove that I’m the best 154
out there.”
What were his thoughts of this fight being held in Canelo
country? “To me it’s exciting,” he replied. “I’m not worried
about being in Mexico, I think it’s going to be a fair
fight. I just hope the judges do the job the correct way.
But I know he wants to knock me out, and I want to knock him
out. It’s going to be a great fight; Puerto Rico against
Mexico.
“I think a win would erase all the doubts. That draw
(against Sergio Martinez) really hurt my career. No excuses,
but that was a terrible performance by me. I think the win
would put me in the top three; Cotto number one, then Canelo,
then me. I just have to worry about myself. I’ll take it one
round at a time to make sure I come out victorious.”
Kermit was accused of not being the fighter he once was.
“I’ve had my ups and downs, that doesn’t mean that I’m a
shot fighter, it doesn’t mean that I suck. I’ve had my bad
nights and good nights. I still feel great. If that’s how
they want to take me, it’s a big mistake on their part.”
Which made Eric Gomez, matchmaker with Golden Boy feel it
necessary to jump in and add something. “That’s not correct,
that we picked him because we feel he’s past his prime. We
picked him because he’s the next step in Canelo’s
development and he’s one of the top fighters in the world,
and it’s time to face these top fighters. So by no means did
we pick him because we feel he’s weak, or he’s done, or he
sucks. Kermit Cintron is a legitimate, world title type
fighter, and he deserves to be on this kind of stage.”
ADRIEN “THE PROBLEM” BRONER
The second part of the double-header will take place in
Cincinnati, Ohio, featuring the undefeated Broner going up
against Martin Rodriguez (34-2-1, 19 KOs). If we were to sum
up Adrian’s feelings on his upcoming fight, it would be
this:
“Have your popcorn, your pop, and all your snacks ready,
because this fight could end at any time. I’m trying to be
World Champion.”
But obviously Broner had more to say. He admitted that camp
was hard. “That’s what training camp is about,” he explained
“I ran six miles every day, strength and conditioning
Tuesday and Thursday, and sparring 14-20 rounds three times
a week. I’ve had about six sparring partners. It got real
messy in camp,” he chuckled. “a couple of broken parts –
it’s boxing. For the most part it was fun. I’ll take ya out
to eat, and then punch on you a little bit.”
“For me,” he continued, “the biggest issue the last week of
the fight might be the scale. You have to beat the scale,
but I do that with no problem.”
He doesn’t watch tapes of his opponents. He feels that it is
pointless to watch another fighter fight the man you will
face. “I’d rather make my own adjustments in the ring.”
He realized that he took some criticism for his first round
knock out of Jason Litzau and had this to say. “I didn’t go
in looking for the knockout, it presented itself and I just
took it. I knew I could knock the guy out any time I touched
him, but I was going to let it present itself, and when it
did I just seized the moment. So I did box myself into it.”
Adrien is happy to have this fight in is home town of
Cincinnati, where almost half of his fights have been. But
he doesn’t assume anything.
“I train for every fight like it is the toughest one of my
life.”
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
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