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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Eleider Alvarez: "I Am 36 Years Old, But I Am Determined To
Become World Champion"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - Former Silver light heavyweight (175 pounds)
champion of the world, the Montrealer Colombian Eleider
Alvarez is determined to become world champion in the months
to come. August 22nd at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino in Las
Vegas, Alvarez (25-1-0) will face the New Yorker Joe Smith
Jr. (25-3-0) in a WBO elimination's bout. The winner of this
bout will face the winner of an eventual elimination bout
between the Russians Umar Salamov (25-1-0) and Maxim Viasov
(45-3-0).
Salomov and Viasov are ranked first and second contender by
the WBO, and Alvarez and Smith are ranked third and fourth
contenders.
“I am 36 years old, but I am determined to become world
champion in the months to come,” said Alvarez. “I know I am
enough strong mentally and physically to reach my goal.”
The fight Alvarez-Smith was originally scheduled for June,
but Alvarez injured his right shoulder in a training
session, then, the fight has been postponed to August 22nd.
“My shoulder is now in perfect shape, then, I am ready for
this challenge”, said Alvarez.
Alvarez lost his only pro bout against the Russian Sergey
Kovalev (34-4-1) in February 2019 in California.
He lost by unanimous decision.
“I lost my only pro bout against Kovalev in 2019, it’s true,
but don’t forget that I beat him by KO (7th round) the year
before in Atlantic City,” said Alvarez. “I know I have the
speed, the technique and the confidence to become world
champion in the months to come. Smith? He is a very intense
and aggressive fighter, but I know I have the technique and
the speed to dominate him August 22nd. I got a great
preparation for this elimination bout, and trust me, I won’t
disappointed my fans. I will fight with intensity and a
perfect concentration from the beginning to the end of this
WBO elimination bout.”
The promoter of the GYM Group in Montréal, Yvon Michel said:
“I know that Eleider is ready for this challenge. He wants
so much to become world champion in the months to come. Joe
Smith Jr. won his most important fight at his last bout in
Atlantic City, against Jesse Hart, from Philadelphia, but no
doubt that Eleider is faster than him and he is a more
complete fighter. I really believe that Eleider gonna win
this elimination bout, and after, he will face the winner of
the other WBO elimination between Umar Salamov and Maxim
Viasov.”
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