By Miguel Maravilla
Former world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico is determined to silence all the critics as he takes on WBC, WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) of Kazakhstan. The highly anticipated rematch will take place in a few weeks on Saturday September 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Fightnews.com® caught up with Canelo this past weekend prior to his Los Angeles media workout in front of thousands of fans at the new Banc of California Stadium.
“We’re getting close to the fight, and I feel good. I’m just anxious for September 15 to come,” Saul “Canelo” Alvarez told Fightnews.com®. “He knows what I am about. You will see a new Canelo in the rematch. I’m looking forward to showing him that on September 15.”
Coming off the biggest scandal in boxing this year, Canelo obviously feels the pressure coming into this fight.
“In reality, I feel no pressure coming into this fight. I have the experience in big fights. More than anything I am excited about this fight,” Canelo explained.
With the rematch set for early this year on Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), lightning struck in February as Canelo tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol in wake of eating contaminated meat, leaving the rematch in jeopardy. Facing heavy criticism, two months later Canelo would withdraw from the rematch making an official announcement alongside with his promoter Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and President Eric Gomez.
As a result, Alvarez was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for six months which he began serving February 17 to August 18. Now the Mexican superstar looks to leave the issue a thing of the past and focus on his showdown with Golovkin.
“It has been tough and difficult for me but I have learned from this. Turning the negative into positive,” Canelo explained.
It’s no secret that last year’s showdown with Golovkin lived up to the hype. Unfortunately for the fight, the sport, and Canelo the fight as well as Alvarez’s performance was overshadowed by judge Adalaide Byrd lopsided 118-110 score favoring Canelo. While judges Dave Moretti scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Golovkin and Ton Trella scored the bout even 114-114 a draw, most ringside media scored the bout much closer in favor of Golovkin.
“All I know is that we gave the fans a great fight,” Alvarez on the last fight. “I have watched the first fight several times. The error that I made was that I had opportunities to counter that I needed to have taken advantage of. I need to do that in the rematch,” Alvarez added.
“From what we saw in the first fight Golovkin is a very common fighter, That goes forward and slow,” Canelo’s trainer Eddie Reynoso told Fightnews.com
This time around for the rematch the officials appointed for the fight are referee Benji Estevez of New York, Judges Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey, and Glenn Feldman, Dave Moretti of Nevada. Canelo gave us his take.
“The judges really don’t affect me. I didn’t cry about it. I just do my job,” Canelo explained.
With only three weeks to go for the fight, Canelo has been gearing up for the rematch working with his longtime team of Trainer Eddie Reynoso and manager Jose “Chepo” Reynoso in San Diego, California as they prepare for the rematch.
“I’m very motivated and confident for this win. I’m confident in my preparation,” Alvarez on his preparation.
“We have been putting in the work and Saul looks more than ready for the fight. He is looking sharp,” trainer Eddie Reynoso on the preparation.
Come fight night it will be nearly a year that Canelo stepped foot in the ring as his first encounter with Golovkin took place on Mexican Independence Day September 16. For his opponent Golovkin, following Canelo’s withdraw from the fight, Golovkin and his team scrambled around to find an opponent as Golovkin brutally knocked out the replacement Vanes Martirosyan in two rounds.
“The first fight gave me the guideline for the second fight. I know that I can do many things in the ring against him. I know that I can hurt him,” Canelo said.
“Lets be honest he was going up against a stiff with limited preparation. Going two rounds isn’t much activity,” Canelo’s trainer Eddie Reynoso said.
The feeling coming into this fight is that the mutual respect the two fighters shared prior to the last fight is no longer there. It’s obvious that Canelo’s dilemma of testing positive for clenbuterol has resulted in Team GGG lack of respect for the Mexican star.
“This fight is personal because of all that’s been said, and it will be difficult to regain the respect that we once had,” Canelo explained.
Insults ranging from a Nike commercial with Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez eating steak, GGG Promotions providing media with VADA approved steaks for lunch, and most recently Sanchez mentioned on a press release that Canelo ran the entire time not fighting Mexican Style.
“Honestly I dont pay attention to the comments that are made. The statements that have been made about me have given me more motivation to train harder,” Canelo said about the insults. “There is no such thing as a Mexican style. There have been many fighters from Mexico with different styles. My style is mine. I’m Mexican and that’s what is important. Maybe Golovkin uses ‘Mexican Style’ to get fans, but he’s a hypocrite. If something were to happen in Mexico, he wouldn’t be there to support them,”
Rather its personal or just another fight for Canelo, come September 15, Alvarez has a lot to prove the second time around against Golovkin.
“My objective is the knockout and I’ll be looking for that from the opening round.” Canelo said. “I have to win convincingly. It has to be a knockout to erase any doubts,” Canelo concluded.
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