Canelo’s Press Conference/Workout turns into a lovefest

Saturday, March 8, 2014, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (l) versus Alfredo “Perro” Angulo.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Around 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, the insanely popular, former WBC and WBA Light Middleweight World Champion, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez along with his entourage of 10 or more people arrived in these two-4 door, 7-seat Cadillac Escalades, one white, the other black, for his Press Conference and workout at the House of Boxing Gym in Paradise Hills, a blue collar neighborhood of San Diego.

Awaiting his arrival, were the many television camera crews, newspapers and web reporters, photographers, video bloggers and of course the loyal fans.

After shaking hands with most everyone, Canelo, was handed a microphone to speak to the very large crowd. “I want to thank everyone for coming out today. You must know that I feel so very appreciative to all – the media and fans. Your support has given me my motivation.”  

Soon after, their hero was off to work. He shadowboxed, hit the mitts, did calisthenics, worked the speed bag, smacked the heavy bag, did stretching exercises, posed for a ton of photos, signed autographs, conducted copious amounts of interviews, some in groups and others one-on-one.

(top) Canelo’s black Cadillac Escalade. (bottom) Amongst themselves, the young ladies above had a lot to say regarding the Alvarez Media Day event.

The two ladies in the photo to your left, Michelle Sobocinski (blue top) and Jessica Morales (black outfit) are from the All In Entertainment group now working with ESPN to promote a Boxing Show at the Pala Resort & Casino. On Tuesday, they had an opportunity to meet pro boxer/House of Boxing gym owner David Barragan (l) and lightweight contender Antonio Orozco (r). Photos: Jim Wyatt

(top left) Yours truly had an opportunity to meet Marcos Villegas broadcaster/host of the Boxing Channel and Fight Hub TV. (below) Oscar De La Hoya poses for photos with the Arellano clan which includes professional boxers Israel and Antonio.

Below are the interesting quotes from the day: 

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez

“What are your thoughts on what figures to be a slugfest with Angulo?

“There are hard fights and there are difficult fights; this is going to be a very hard fight, a grueling bout. I know Angulo is training like he has never trained before.”

“If victorious, who do you want to fight next?”

“I am not thinking of any other fighter or any future fight. My only focus is on Angulo and March 8. This is a really tough fight and it is the only fight I think about.”

“How is this camp different than your past camps, or is it different at all?”

“I learned a lot from the Mayweather fight, not only physically, but mentally. It was a great learning experience. This camp may not look that different, but I’ve been applying everything I learned into this camp and trying to refine some of the things I do.”

“How have you managed to handle the media scrutiny?”

“This performance is going to regain everybody’s confidence in me.”

“Did you ever think you’d reach these heights as a professional fighter?”

“No, never. I always just tried to be the best fighter I could be, the best in the world. All of this notoriety and popularity is a plus but I’m just a normal person trying to succeed and reach my goal.”

“Is Angulo’s style made to order?”

“His style is one that I enjoy because I know he loves to trade punches so I won’t have to go looking for him.”

“Is there a fighter you’ve faced that reminds you of Angulo?”

“I think that if I had to name one fighter it would be Carlos Baldomir, because when I fought him I was so young and he was so strong.”

“Is it important for you to win by knockout?”

“I never go into a fight looking for a knockout. I just want to win convincingly, although there’s no doubt our styles will make for an exciting fight.”

Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions

“I’m very excited about this whole event and, of course, especially the main event. It’s going to be an exciting fight, a helluva fight. It’s going to be a shootout.

“With two Mexican warriors in the ring, you may go in with a game plan, but once one of them gets hit, well, Viva Mexico. It’ll be bombs away.

“You really don’t want to miss this event. From top to bottom, there are great, action-packed fights. Last year I thought we put on the most exciting fights and we’re continuing that with our first pay-per-event in 2014.

“I want to thank the fans for all their support and for supporting Golden Boy Boxing.”

Chepo Reynoso, Canelo’s Manager 

“It’s going to be a very interesting fight because the styles complement each other. Angulo is an aggressive fighter who comes forward. That’s the tailor-made style for Canelo to make a very exciting fight.”

Eddie Reynoso, Canelo’s Trainer

“It’s going to be a hard fight. We’re up against a very strong fighter in Angulo and that’s why we’ve been training so hard and for this reason, we expect to see Canelo getting his hand raised on March 8.”

This coming Monday, March 3, Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs), will be leaving from his home in Del Mar for Las Vegas. His showdown against Mexican compatriot Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (22-3, 18 KOs) will take place Saturday, March 8, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and be shown live on Showtime PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). 

In the three world title fights on the PPV undercard, they have undefeated two-division world champion Leo “Terremoto” SantaCruz (27-0-1, 15 KOs) defending his WBC Super Bantamweight title against former three-time world champion Cristian “El Diamante” Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KOs); unbeaten Omar“Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (24-0-1, 17 KOs) risking his WBC Lightweight Title against Alvarez’s brother Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez (23-2-3, 14 KOs) and finally they have “King” Carlos Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) defending his IBF Junior Middleweight Championship against undefeated Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KOs).

Tickets are priced at $600, $400, $200, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, you call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.  Movie theater tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

“Toe to Toe”: Canelo vs. Angulo,” is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T and Casamigos Tequila.

Additions to the article, interviews by Elie Sekbach, were added a few days later.