Before Saturday’s fight against WBA super light heavyweight champion (up to 79.4 kg) Russian Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs), Mexican undisputed middleweight champion (up to 76.2 kg) Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (57- 1-2, 39 KO) answered questions from American journalists.
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interview Canelo spoke about his future opponent, commented on a possible fight against the current unified heavyweight champion Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs), remembered the hard times in his youth and spoke about other fighters.
vRING Preview: Alvarez-Bivol. Is this “w-w” for a reason?
Canelo, do you have the best defense in boxing history?
– I don’t know. May be.
Compare Bivol to Caleb Plant.
– He’s different. Plant is a skilled fighter, but Bivol is a really skilled fighter, with good footwork, strong, smart. He is a difficult fighter.
Do you think you can stop him?
– Quite possible. Why not? Anything can happen in boxing.
— Saul, what is the most difficult thing Bivol has?
– He has everything. He’s strong, he has a really good jab, really good footwork. He has everything. He is also a smart fighter.
Is there one thing that stands out?
I need to see you on Saturday.
Dmitry Bivol – Canelo Alvarez: forecast for the fight on May 8
– When you were at 69.9 kg, you moved a lot, sometimes you boxed, sometimes you went forward, but from the second fight against Golovkin you always go forward. Why is that?
“I just do what I need to do, what works for me in the last fights. I can also move if I need to.
– Evaluate the test by Dmitry Bivol in your career at the moment?
Like I said, he’s a really good fighter. It’s a really good challenge for me because I think he’s the best at 79.4kg. He is a solid champion, a really good boxer. This is a challenge for me.
How much do you like challenges? Eddie Hearn said you would move a pound over the heavyweight limit to face Oleksandr Usyk. And Usyk’s manager said that Oleksandr would go down to heavyweight to meet you. I talked to Eddie Reynoso and he’s not happy with this fight. But is that what you’re interested in?
– They talk a lot. As a fighter, I don’t care. I will fight anyone. I have my own fight ahead of me, but like I said, I really don’t care.
– Do you think that one day we will see you against Usyk?
– Why not? May be.
– There were reports that Errol Spence would fight at 74.4 kg. Do you have anything to say about this?
“Like I said earlier, I don’t want to do things like that. Intermediate weight? Why me? I don’t need to do this.
– And if at 72.6 kg?
– 76.2 kg! I shouldn’t do anything like that.
“I heard that you might be the greatest fighter in the history of Mexico. But I also heard that you started talking about the possibility of being the best fighter in history?
– Not.
– Do you think it’s possible?
“Look, I’m just trying to do my best in boxing. And when I finish my career, we’ll see. You never know in advance. But I always try my best.
Canelo, you said you had three jobs for 400 pesos. At what point did you get to the point where you didn’t have to have three jobs and were able to work less and box more?
– When Chepo (Reynoso) said: “You don’t need to work anymore. You need to focus on boxing.” I said, “I have to work because I have a daughter and everything.” I was 17, almost 18 years old. And Chepo objected: “Stop working.”
– At that moment, he took care of you on himself? Did you still need the money or were the fights enough to pay for everything?
— I had 14 fights in a year. In 1 month I had three fights. It was like work. [смеётся].
– You have one defeat in the fight against Mayweather. How did this experience prepare you for the rest of your career and start to give you knowledge of how you are now winning the sport?
“I learned a lot of important things from that fight. I didn’t want to lose anymore.
– You said that Charlo and Benavidez should fight each other …
– All fighters. I didn’t mean just them.
“They are fighting Lemieux and Sulecki. What do you think of these fights?
“I shouldn’t say anything about it. You as the media have to see what they are doing and what I am doing. There is a big difference here.
Jake Paul made a lot of noise last week. Did you pay any attention to it?
“I’m wondering why you guys are asking me about this fight. Jake Paul? Come on guys.
“I think some people would love the way you knock him out.
– As he said, maybe in 2 years we can talk.
“I think some people would love the way you knock him out.
– May be [улыбается]. You’re right. We’ll see in 2 years. I hope he improves and does a really good job.
Do you think his presence is good for boxing?
Everything is good for boxing. He brings a lot of fans to boxing. Things are good. Everything is great.
Do you think he’s a little crazy saying that?
No, he’s not crazy. Everything is great. He dreams of something. You need to set goals in your head and dream. Things are good.