Incredibly popular Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez participated in a spirited open media workout Wednesday at TSB-44 in Santa Monica, Calif. as he prepares to defend his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against upset-minded breakout star Josesito Lopez in the main event of “Knockout Kings” on Mexican Independence Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 15, live on SHOWTIME ® (9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Here’s what Canelo, his trainer, and Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said Wednesday:
CANELO ALVAREZ
“Every fight there’s more and more pressure and more and more attention on me. 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.
“Working in Santa Monica at this gym has been great. 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.
“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
“This is a very important fight against a very durable and determined opponent. People don’t believe in Lopez, but they didn’t believe in him before he fought Victor Ortiz 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.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
“This is an amazing card, one that easily could have been on pay-per-view. The fact SHOWTIME stepped up to the plate is great for the sport and great for the fans. We are all very excited about it.
“The millions of fans watching live on SHOWTIME will see a great night of non-stop action and knockouts. The $100,000 bonus we’re giving to the top knockout winner only gives more motivation to all the fighters. Actually, this bonus is so enticing I’m thinking about maybe coming back.
“You know Jhonny Gonzalez is thinking the bonus the way he fights. Ponce De Leon, Canelo, it’s hard to pick who’s going to be the eventual winner. Every fighter on this card possesses tremendous punching power and they can all lay down the hammer and it will be “goodnight” for their opponents when they do.
“Every fight from top to bottom is going to be exciting. I expect them all to end by knockout. They’re all amazing matchups – the matchmaking was crucial to this card and I feel we did a great job.
“Fans are in for a real treat – a night of great action and knockouts. The fighters are motivated and ready to fight.”
“Knockout Kings,” headlined by Canelo Alvarez defending his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. In the co-featured attractions, WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defends his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in fight presented in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, former World Champion Marcos Maidana faces perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass in a fight presented in association with Universum Box-Promotion and Leo Santa Cruz defends his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel. The Saturday, Sept. 15 quadruple-header, packed with Mexican pride and power, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $400, $300, $150, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase. Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
