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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Marc Ramsay: "Smith Is Aggressive, But Alvarez Is
Definitively A More Complete Fighter"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - Eleider Alvarez’s trainer, the Montrealer Marc
Ramsay, has no doubt in his mind: his fighter will leave the
ring in the winning’s shoes Saturday evening in the ring of
the MGM Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. A fighter who is 36 years
old coming from Colombia, Alvarez (25-1-0), a Montrealer
since the beginning of his pro boxing career, will fight the
New Yorker Joe Smith Jr. (25-3-0-) in a WBO light
heavyweight (175 pounds) elimination bout. According the Las
Vegas boxing odds, Alvarez is established favorite by 3-1.
The winner of this fight will face the winner of the other
elimination bout opposing eventually the Russians Umar
Salomov (25-1-0) and Maxim Viasov (45-3-0). The WBO light
heavyweight championship of the world is actually vacant.
“Eleider had a great training camp and I am positive he will
leave the ring on the winning side,” said Ramsay Friday
morning. “Smith is a very aggressive fighter, he is intense,
but Eleider is definitively a more complete fighter,
offensively like defensively. Eleider has the speed, the
technique and the intensity to win this WBO elimination
bout. Eleider wants absolutely to fight for a world title in
the months to come, then, he knows it’s crucial to win this
elimination bout. It’s a major event, and no doubt in my
mind, Eleider will fight with a perfect concentration and a
great strategy. I am positive he won’t disappoint his fans.”
Alvarez said: “Marc is right, I got a great preparation for
this challenge. I really want to have a world championship
bout in the months to come, then, I need absolutely to win
this elimination bout. I know I have the speed, the
technique and the intensity to win this bout. Smith has the
reputation to be a very aggressive fighter, but like Marc
Ramsay said it, I am a more complete fighter than Smith. I
know I was supposed to face Smith in June, but you know as
me that I injured my right shoulder in a training session,
then, Yvon Michel has been obliged to postpone our bout. But
now, my shoulder is a perfect health. I will have all my
weapons for this event.”
Smith replied: “I know that Alvarez is a good fighter, but I
am positive I have the weapons necessaries to win this
fight. I will be intense from the beginning to the end, and
I really believe I will be in the winning side. If Alvarez
wants absolutely to get a shot for a WBO world title, trust
me, I have the same ambition.”
The promoter of the GYM Group in Montréal, Yvon Michel,
said: “No doubt that it’s a crucial event for Eleider. The
winner of this elimination bout will dispute a WBO world
championship against the eventual elimination bout between
the Russians Umar Salomov and Maxim Viasov. Eleider had a
serious preparation, because he knows like me that his last
fight in Atlantic City, Smith scored the most important win
of his pro boxing career (against Jesse Hart from
Philadelphia). Then, Eleider is taking this fight very
seriously. I am positive he has the talent, the speed, the
technique and the motivation to win this elimination bout.”
Bernard Barré, the scout of the GYM Group, said: “Smith is a
real warrior. He is extremely aggressive in the ring. But
Eleider is certainly a more complete fighter than him. I am
sure that Eleider, with his speed, technique and intensity,
he is gonna win this fight by unanimous decision of the
judges. I say unanimous decision, because the two fighters
have solid chin A KO or a TKO in the circumstances would be
a very surprising result. Eleider is determined to have a
world championship this year or next year, then, he needs to
win this WBO elimination bout and he knows it. If Eleider
wins this fight, like we are expecting it, we are gonna work
very hard to organize him a WBO light heavyweight
championship of the world in the months to come. Eleider is
not only a good fighter, he has greats ambitions.”
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