'Canelo' ready for his biggest challenge to date
(In conjunction with HBO Sports, Yahoo! Sports will be featuring special Q&A entries from Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Shane Mosley. This is part 1 of 2 from Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who faces "Sugar" Shane Mosley on May 5.)
Mosley is the highest-profile fighter you will have fought, and even at age 40, he probably will be the biggest test you’ve faced. Is this too early in your career, too late or right on time for an opponent of his caliber?
This is exactly the right time in my career for this fight. I have been waiting for the opportunity to prove to the boxing world that I am a great fighter and I am ready for these kinds of matches. The 2011 fight where I defeated Cintron in the 5th round by TKO was a big moment for me. I spent the necessary time in the beginning of the fight feeling out Cintron, assessing what I had to do to win it.
I proved that my power and speed are what makes me ready. I have incredible energy and the May 5th fight will prove just that. I remember back in 2005 I fought Abraham Gonzalez in my professional debut and there was a lot of pressure on me. I went out there and won, and proved what I will prove against Mosley. People might like to use my age against me, saying I’m too inexperienced to fight this kind of match.
The truth is that I have been a fighter my entire life and if anything, my age is an asset. I look at other fighters my age and see pure aggression, but not tactical strategy. Look at any fight I’ve had with boxers and you’ll see just that. I am greatly looking forward to this challenge on May 5th, but in my head and soul, I know I will emerge the victor and put to rest any concern about who I am fighting. I want to fight the best fighters out there and win. I can do that.
How important is it to you to represent Mexico on Cinco De Mayo in the co-feature on May 5th?
Mexico is my home and always will be. I am very proud of my Mexican heritage and consider it a strong part of my identity. Marco Barrera and Erik Morales and Julio Cesar Chavez are just some of the Mexican fighters I know our community look up to. I intend to be among these men. I don’t lose, so no matter what day I’m fighting on, I’m giving my all to win. Even in my toughest fights, failure has never been an option.
I think this fight is especially exciting for all the fans. Being a role model for the Latino community is very important to me and I am filled with pride each and every time I win. I grew up on my family’s farm, learning to horseback ride, and otherwise keeping myself busy when I wasn’t fighting. I am blessed to have had such a fortunate upbringing in Juanacatlán. Honestly, I can’t imagine growing up anywhere else because it is that upbringing that has made me the man I am today.
My family is what keeps me grounded and keeps me focused on what I have accomplished as well as what I have left to do. They are a part of me as much as I am of them. You know I always enjoy fighting in Mexico, but right now I am focused on the May 5th match. I have never been so ready in my professional career. I have no doubt it will be a fight to remember and I will leave victorious.
“Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto,” and Canelo Alvarez vs. Sugar Shane Mosley will take place Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Episodes two and three of HBO’s all-access reality series 24/7 MAYWEATHER/COTTO debut on Saturdays – April 21 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) and 28 (9:45-10:15 p.m. ET/PT) – while the finale debuts Friday, May 4 (8:00-8:30 p.m. ET/PT), the night before the high-stakes super welterweight title bout. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.
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