Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez are ramping up the promotion for their Sept. 14 fight in Las Vegas, and both hosted media workouts this week. The two fighters appear to be focused, training hard, and well prepared for their opponent. Canelo thinks he will be at his best for the fight, and a wise Mayweather is not overlooking the 23-year-old.
“He’s no pushover; I can’t overlook him,” Mayweather told the media this week. “I just have to go out and execute the game plan and do what I do best. Nothing worries me. I can make adjustments.
“This is a great matchup. He’s a puncher. I’m a sharp boxer. You know, a lot of times I hit these guys and I make them go into survival mode. Even in the Robert Guerrero fight I was looking for the knockout, but I hurt my hand. So I wasn’t impressed with myself — because I didn’t get the knockout. This time around, I’ll be looking for the knockout.”
While Mayweather says he will be looking for the knockout, Alvarez will also be looking to do damage. Canelo has 30 knockouts and feels that his game will be elevated facing the best.
“I’ve always said that I’ve never fought to my potential but that’s because I’ve never had an opponent to bring it out. I feel that maybe Mayweather will be the one to bring it out.”
Alvarez also says he plans to replicate what past Mayweather opponents have to to be successful against the undefeated champion.
“I’ve studied tapes of the fights he (Mayweather) had trouble in, like those against Miguel Cotto and Jose Luis Castillo. I’m looking for ways to penetrate Mayweather’s defense like they did. Cotto had success, but couldn’t maintain it. I plan to maintain it.”
It’s always much easier to say you’re going to replicate strategies than to actually execute it in the ring. Robert Guerrero said he was watching Cotto tape too, and then he couldn’t touch Floyd for most of the fight. There’s a big, big reason Floyd is undefeated. The man isn’t untouchable as Cotto showed us, but he does have excellent defense. Maybe Alvarez will be able to do some similar damage.
Photo: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
