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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Canelo Alvarez: "Trust Me,
I Don’t Underestimate Khan"
By Daniel Cloutier
LAS VEGAS - The WBC middleweight champion of the world, the
Mexican Saul Canelo Alvarez, said that he does not
underestimate at all the British Amir Khan, the fighter he
will face next Saturday evening in the ring of T-Mobile
Arena in Las Vegas.
A fighter of 25 years, Alvarez (46-1-1) will defend for the
first time the WBC 160 pounds world title he won last
November at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas, in beating
the Porto Rican Miguel Cotto (40-5-0) by unanimous decision.
“I am positive I will still be champion of the world next
Saturday, but trust me, I don’t underestimate at all Amir
Khan, said Alvarez. The boxing writers or TV commentators
who are pretending I will have an easy fight , don’t know
Khan like I know him. I know he is a good fighter, and in
record (31-3-0) is showing it. I will fight with intensity,
I will hit with authority, and we will see how Khan will
react. I am sure Khan is believing he will dethrone me, that
he will surprise me, then, its crucial that I prove in each
round of the bout I have the talent, the determination and
the weapons to be world champion."
Alvarez is actually considered as the eight best fighter
pound for pound in the world. "I know I am progressing fight
after fight, and I am sure i will become more and more
dangerous in the years to come, said Alvarez. I always been
a solid puncher, but no doubt I am progressing technically
and strategically with the experience I am getting in each
fight.”
Alvarez believes that Khan will move constantly in the ring
like Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0-0) al always did. “I am sure
Khan won’t try to exchange punches with me, said Alvarez. He
knows I am stronger physically than him and I hit harder
than him. I am positive he will move constantly in the ring
like Floyd Mayweather Jr. always did. He will try to confuse
me in moving constantly. But trust me, I will know to react
if he does what I am expecting he will do.”
Khan is not scared at all to face Alvarez. “I am underdog,
and so what? I was underdog when I fought to the Athens
Olympics, I was just 17 years old, and I got out of the
Olympic tournament with a silver medal, said Khan. I know I
have the speed, the skills and the determination to surprise
Alvarez. I know Alvarez is very strong physically and he is
one of the best fighter on the planet, but no doubt in my
mind I have the weapons necessaries to cause a surprise in
Las Vegas. If Alvarez is underestimating me, he will pay the
big price for that.”
Khan believes a win over Alvarez will make him an
international star on the boxing scene. “Alvarez is the big
favourite to win, then, I want to surprise him and score the
most significant win of my career, said Khan. No doubt that
a win over Alvarez would make me an international star on
the boxing scene. Its why I am considering this bout as the
biggest moment on my boxing career. Yes, Alvarez is the big
favourite, and it’s perfect. While the media are constantly
busy to interview him, I am training like hell to be
perfectly prepared for this challenge. It will be crucial
for me to fight brilliantly. My speed, my technique and my
strategy will be the keys to win that fight. Alvarez is not
a good mover in the ring, but I am a good one. And the media
talk about the Alvarez experience, but don’t forget I got a
bigger experience than him in the amateurs. I have the
conviction you will see in action an Amir Khan better than
ever. More the fight is close; more I am motivated to prove
to my fans I am deserving to be world champion. I am more
and more impatient to live this challenge. I really believe
I will become the new WBC middleweight champion of the
world. It’s clear in my mind; my future in boxing will be in
the middleweight division. Actually, I am feeling very well
at 160 pounds. I have the same speed than in the past, and
my punches are stronger than ever. It will be so exciting to
live an event of this amplitude».
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