SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (April 4, 2013) – Mexican superstar and WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez held a media workout on Thursday at the jam-packed Wild Card West in Santa Monica, Calif., in preparation for his world championship unification showdown against undefeated WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Austin Trout taking place on Saturday, April 20, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The 12-round Super Welterweight World Championship Unification from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas is for Canelo’s WBC title, Trout’s WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine title.
The throng of media members at Wild Card West was just a warm-up for what Canelo can expect in San Antonio when he faces the toughest opponent of his career at the 30,000-plus seat Alamodome later this month. Joining Canelo on Thursday at Wild Card West was manager Chepo Reynoso, trainer Eddy Reynoso and President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya.
The pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, the 22-year-old Canelo Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KO’s) is a superstar in Mexico and one of the biggest draws in boxing. He has successfully defended his title five times, most recently with victories in 2012 over “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Josesito Lopez.
Long considered one of boxing’s most underrated fighters, Las Cruces, New Mexico’s Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-0, 14 KO’s), 27, is coming off of a career-best victory over Puerto Rican legend and future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden last December.
Here’s what the participants had to say on Thursday:
CANELO ALVAREZ
“The more intelligent fighter is going to win on April 20. We’ve mapped out a game plan and we’ll stick to it. I’ve looked back at some of my past fights and I’m critical of how I’ve performed. I’ve taken criticism, but all criticism is constructive and I’m taking it all in.
“Because he beat my brother and took his belt, this fight has more meaning. It’s personal, because he took something from us. After I win this fight, I’m going to get that belt and I’m going to give it to my brother.
“I’m really excited for the San Antonio fans, as well as all the Mexican fans who will be there supporting me. I’m hoping I can give them a great fight.
“The key for me is patience. I know he’ll be ready for me at all times. It’s going to be a complicated fight, but I’m prepared for it.
“I’m not concerned about talking about (Floyd) Mayweather or anyone else. I’m just focused on this fight. If he didn’t want to sign [to fight me], that’s on him. After this fight we will talk about Mayweather and whoever else.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
“This is going to be a very physical fight. Austin Trout is legitimate. He is undefeated. He is strong. I think that whoever wins this fight is going to shoot up like a star and go to the next level. It’s a tough fight for both. I expect a really, really tough fight.
“What I see is the potential for whoever wins this fight to be a superstar. Not just a star or just a champion, but a superstar. Canelo is on the right path and April 20 is going to show us if he’s able to make that jump. Canelo’s destiny is in his own hands and it’s up to him to win the fight.
“This reminds me when I beat Ike Quartey. Although I did have all the admirers and the fans, I needed that one win to solidify me as a great champion. This is his one moment, but he has his work cut out for him. Austin Trout is the real deal. He’s no joke, but if you want to beat the best you have to fight the best. I’ve said that throughout my whole career.
“I think San Antonio is a great fight town. The fans there have been asking for a great fight. They haven’t had a big fight there since Chavez-Whitaker. I fought there, but they haven’t had a big, big world championship fight in some time.”
CHEPO REYNOSO
“All the training’s been done and we are down to our final weeks. We know that Trout is a smart fighter and that he got some invaluable experience against (Miguel) Cotto.
“We’re ready for a lefty fighter and focused our training sparring with two very seasoned lefties who provided us with a lot of different looks. They have a lot of similar characteristics to what we are going to see against Trout.”
EDDY REYNOSO
“Canelo is going to fight how he always fights. We aren’t going to change just because of our opponent. Of course we’ve studied all of Trout’s fights and we’ll be ready for whatever he brings, but we’re just going to come to fight like we always do.”
Canelo vs. Trout, a 12-round Super Welterweight World Championship Unification fight for Canelo’s WBC title, Trout’s WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona andAT&T. The co-main event will be a 10-round fight between undefeated prospects Omar Figueroa Jr. of Weslaco, Texas and Abner Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Championship which is presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. The fights will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with Canelo vs. Trout being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).
Remaining tickets priced at $25 and $10, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are available for purchase at the Alamodome box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.
