LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 15: (L-R) Canelo Alvarez lands a left to the head of Josesito Lopez during their WBC super welterweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 15, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)
Three of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s older brothers are boxers. One, Rigoberto, was an interim WBA world champion.
The difference between them and Canelo, the red-headed superstar, may be the future of the sport.
"I hate to say this, but I think Canelo is going to destroy [Austin Trout],” HBO’s legendary boxing analyst Harold Lederman told reporter Chris Robinson. “Canelo is a star. He can box, he can move, he can punch. He's 22 years old and he fights like a veteran that's 35 years old. He's a guy that's just a terrific.”
To Lederman and many others in boxing, Alvarez represents the future of the sport.
“I feel very happy and very proud that a man like him that has seen so many fighters would say that about me,” Alvarez told Fox News Latino at an open workout last week. “I have to work to make that a reality.”
The Mexican boxer has impressed many on his run to 41-0-1 and faces his biggest challenge April 20th, when he faces Austin Trout, the undefeated 27-year-old who recently defeated Miguel Cotto.
The event, taking place in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome and airing on Showtime, is Alvarez’s chance to prove critics wrong about the claim he avoids top contenders.
Trout is believed to be a bad-style match-up for Alvarez.
“Trout has a difficult fighting style but we are working to prepare for that,” Alvarez said. “I feel really good, we are practically ready for the fight and the only thing I want is just to be in the ring.”
The bout will be for Trout’s WBA Super Middleweight championship, Alvarez’s WBC Super Middleweight championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Super Middleweight championship. But in this sport, it’s about the money, and Floyd “Money” Mayweather is the fighter with the biggest payday and legacy.
“It’s not personal with Floyd Mayweather Jr,” said Alvarez who exchanged barbs with Mayweather when a match-up was being negotiated.
“If one day a fight happens, I’ll be ready. If not, I’ll continue to move my career forward.”
On whether or not he needs to beat Mayweather to be declared the best he added: “There are going to be other fights, and as long as I keep winning I’ll be the best.”
In regards to his current fight, he’s happy the chatter has been kept to a minimum.
“We don’t need to talk. Everyone knows it’s going to be a good fight,” said Alvarez. “There is no need to talk. We don’t need to insult each other.”
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