It seems that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is not taking the upcoming challenge of Jermell Charlo lightly.
Some in boxing have started to question whether the Mexican great has peaked following a loss to Dmitry Bivol, a distance-fight with an ageing Gennady Golovkin and a title defence against John Ryder which saw him fail to stop the Brit.
As such, there are some in the sport who think this fight against Charlo presents ‘a nightmare’ for him, believing the American to be catching him at the right time despite him having to jump two weight classes for the pleasure.
Canelo is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations, moving his camp from its usual home of San Diego up to an isolated training compound he has built at altitude in Truckee, California.
At 5,817 feet above sea level it will mean he is training with lower levels of oxygen in the air than he is used to.
Speaking to Boxing Scene, Canelo has expanded on why.
“It’s good. I’m in Truckee, California for the altitude because, you know, when I fought in Guadalajara, Mexico [and beat John Ryder in May], I felt the difference in the altitude. I felt better. My body felt better.
I was still in rehab for my hand. But I felt better in everything. So that’s why I chose to come here to train in the altitude. My body feels good.”
The 33-year-old four-division champion has also revealed in an Instagram story that he is sparring 14 x four-minute rounds. It seems Alvarez is more determined than ever to prove he is still amongst the world’s elite when it comes to boxing.