By Luis Sandoval
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is taking on the toughest and biggest challenge of his career as he will tangle with the best fighter in the sport when he faces Floyd “Money” Mayweather on September 14th in Las Vegas, NV.
While this is currently the biggest fight that can be made, many still feel Alvarez is simply too young and inexperienced to be facing a fighter like Mayweather at this stage of his career. Alvarez is the youngest champion at the moment at 22 years old but he feels this is his time to make his own transition to the top of the sport.
“Well, that's what's left to take that next step. Floyd was in my position at one point. Oscar [De La Hoya] was in my position. Julio Cesar Chavez was in my position. This is what's left to give that next big step” Alvarez would tell BoxingScene.
“I've always said my rivals bring out my potential and I haven't brought out the most of my potential yet. Obviously with Floyd Mayweather he's going to bring the best and most potential out of me and September 14th everyone will see it”.
One of the fighters that also brought out the best in Canelo was his last opponent Austin Trout. The fight with Trout was one many felt Canelo would try to avoid but instead, he demanded it and came out victorious in front of 40,000 fans in attendance. Alvarez feels that fight helped him and he’ll be able to adapt more than Mayweather’s last opponent Robert Guerrero.
“I felt very good [in my last fight]. Everybody thought Trout was going to make me look bad and it was the opposite. And like I said, every opponent continues to bring out the best in me. And in Mayweather's [last] fight, Guerrero didn't cause him any problems. He didn't have a game plan. He stayed with the same plan and he wasn't able to do anything against Floyd” said Canelo.
Canelo has shown he can adapt to the opponent in front of him as he sacrificed some of his attack and used his defense against Trout in order to be effective and win the fight. Against Mayweather, Alvarez will once again need to fight at a style to be effective against Floyd.
“It's very hard to point out the flaws in Floyd. He's a complete fighter but obviously you can see any weaknesses when you're up there in the ring. We have to be ready so when we find it,we can attack it”.
Alvarez will be training in Big Bear, CA at Shane Mosley’s gym for this camp and plans to have one of his best training camps. The young Mexican champion is very confident going into this fight as he’s promised a victory and in anxious to get in the ring.
You can follow Luis Sandoval on Twitter @Truewest007. You can also tune in to BoxingScene Radio, Boxingscene’s official audio show every Tuesday from 6-8PM PST with hosts Ernest Gabion, Luis Sandoval, and Ryan Burton.
