By Jhonny Gonzalez
Rigoberto Alvarez (25-2, 19KOs), the 32-year-old brother of Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, has vowed to beat Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida (22-5-2, 7KOs) on October 9 at the Mesón de los Deportes in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. The WBA has placed the vacant 154-pound title in the fight. The organization has made Miguel Cotto the "super" champion at junior middleweight.
Words were exchanged during the final press conference in Mexico. Ishida, who trained a bit at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, said he would knock Alvarez out in the first round. Alvarez, with Canelo by his side, promised to bring a new title to Mexico.
"I'm going for a championship and it's great that it's going to take place in Tepic and with the company of my brother, 'Canelo'. I expect a lot from this opportunity and I'm going to take it. Ishida said that he's going to knock me out in the first round. It's good that he's motivated, but I do not think he is a prophet. In the ring, my fists will do that talking. He shouldn't talk so much, hopefully he comes well prepared because I have wanted to give him the beating of his life," Alvarez said.
