Alvarez Is Eager To Learn And Fight The Best

By Clive Bernath: Despite boasting an unbeaten record of, 40-0-1-(29), and being the proud owner of the WBC light middleweight championship, 22 year-old Saul Alvarez insists he still has a lot to learn before he can even think about sharing the ring with the likes of pound for pound kings Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.

That learning curve continues at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 15 when Alvarez defends his world title for the fifth time against Josesito Lopez- and he is well aware of how tough an opponent the 28 year-old from Riverside, California will be.

“Every fight there’s more and more pressure and more and more attention on me,” said Alvarez on Wednesday. “The way I deal with it is to take it one fight at a time. Keep training and trying to get bigger every day. I want to learn and I’m still learning.

“I don’t want to say I’m the best, but I am a world champion and I want to fight the best. I’d love to fight guys like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, but first I have to get past Josesito.

“This is going to be a tough fight and a great fight for the fans. Josesito has a great chin. I feel I’ll have to work him little by little and throw my best combinations to hurt him.

“He’s my opponent and he’s definitely earned the opportunity for this fight. He’s durable, he’s dangerous and he’s coming to win. He’s coming to win and to take my belt.

“I’m not even thinking of the $100,000 knockout bonus. I just want to win convincingly for all my fans. I’m dedicating this fight to them.

“My sole focus is on Sept. 15. Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend is a very big responsibility for me.

Alvarez also revealed that training is going to plan and he is in a relaxed mood with two weeks to go before fight time.

“Working in Santa Monica at this gym has been great,” said Alvarez. “Everything has gone perfectly. I’ve had good sparring and I’ve been working with guys that are similar in size and style to Josesito.

“I’m relaxed and I feel no pressure. It’s different for me now than it used to be. I don’t have as much private time to myself; people know me and recognize me, but I fight for the people, my fans.

Alvarez added: “I’m looking for a big win so that fans can celebrate happily and properly on Mexican Independence Day weekend.  This is a very important date.  I hope the fans come out and support us.  This is a big night and I’m really looking forward to the fight.”

Chepo Reynoso, the trainer of Alvarez is leaving nothing to chance against Lopez. Josesito pulled off a surprise ninth round retirement win over Victor Ortiz back in June to earn a crack at Alvarez and Reynoso will not want history to repeat itself.

 “This is a very important fight against a very durable and determined opponent,” said Reynoso.” People don’t believe in Lopez, but they didn’t believe in him before he fought Victor Ortiz(Victor) either. 

“There are no weak opponents.  We know that Josesito is capable of causing damage.  That’s why we have had 10 weeks of preparation for this fight.  We don’t want the same thing to happen to Canelo that happened to Ortiz. This has been a great camp from start to finish.  There haven’t been any problems.  Canelo is very focused.  He has tunnel vision.”

August 29, 2012