Canelo Alvarez is primed for a historic victory over rival world champion Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on November 6, believing he is now the complete fighter.
WBC, WBA Super and WBO super-middleweight king Alvarez is seeking to become the first undisputed 168lbs champion of the four-belt era with victory over IBF title holder Plant.
Extra spice was added to the looming confrontation when Mexican star Canelo and Nashville’s Plant skirmished at the press launch for the fight last month, an altercation which left the American cut under his right eye.
“I feel strong and I’m very excited. I’m just continuing to move forward day-by-day toward fight night. I’m ready to make history on November 6,” said Canelo after a virtual media workout at trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso’s gym in San Diego.
“It’s new for me to have this much bad blood with an opponent. It’s very different from normal and it’s definitely the most animosity I’ve had with an opponent heading into a big fight. I’m sticking with my prediction of a knockout before round eight. The first couple of rounds will be difficult, but as the fight progresses, I am going to be able to get him out of there.
“I delivered the message I had to at our press conference. I don’t have to say anything else to Plant. I’m just going to prepare to face him in the ring on November 6. The secret to me and Eddy’s relationship is our discipline. My mind is so strong and I’m going to use that to my advantage in this fight.
“I’ve never been involved in anything like what happened at the first press conference between me and Caleb. Whether it sells the fight or not, the most important thing for me is to become undisputed on November 6.
“I’ve been in the ring for huge fights like this a lot of times. For him, it’s going to be a challenge being in there for a fight of this magnitude for the first time. He’s going to have to control his emotions.
“I’m a complete fighter. I can do various things in the ring. I can be aggressive, I can counterpunch, I can move. At the end of the day, I know I have to be a complete fighter. That’s what I’ve learned to be under Eddy Reynoso.
“Caleb is a good boxer, he has a good jab and he moves very well. But it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I’m just going to use my skills and experience to win the fight. This is very important for my country of Mexico. This is one of the most important fights of my life. I’m taking it very seriously and a win means a lot to me.
“I don’t want to compare myself to great Mexican champions of the past. I just want to go out and make my own history. In the end, I want to be considered one of the best along with the legends who came before me.”
Main image: Esther Lin/Showtime.