By Miguel Rivera
Light heavyweight contender Eleider Alvarez (23-0, 11 KOs) is deep in training for the biggest fight of his career.
On August 4th, Alvarez will challenge WBO world champion Sergey Kovalev (32-2-1, 28 KOs) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.
"Everything is going very well. You have to remember that I have a good team, which allows me to prepare for that commitment without any setback. We will be ready," Alvarez said to ESPN Deportes.
Alvarez is not a big puncher, but he does have respectable power.
If a knockout comes, he will indeed jump on the opportunity to get it - but he aims to be ready for a very long night.
"I always prepare to fight for fifteen rounds. I have a good team, an excellent physical trainer, excellent coach and we always try to make the best preparation. In any fight I've had, since I've been in a top ranked position, I'm never tired at the corner when the fight is over. Even the final rounds are the best for me. As I have always said, the knockout is not pursued and sometimes it just arrives. If we can finish the fight before the twelve round distance, we welcome it," Alvarez said.
Alvarez has studied the two defeats of Kovalev's career - and both of them came at the hands of Andre Ward.
There are some who felt the first contest between them was controversial, where Ward got off the floor to win a close twelve round unanimous decision. In the rematch, Ward stopped Kovalev in the eight round. Kovalev has won two bouts since.
Alvarez saw no controversy. He felt Ward was the clear winner in both bouts.
"I had the opportunity to watch the two matches. In the first one, I saw Andre Ward as the winner, I think by two rounds. And I've always said, if Kovalev did not beat him the first time, then the second time was going to be impossible. Ward is like the Mayweather of 175, a very smart boxer. And yes, I saw some little things that I can work on from those fights and we will try to put them into practice [during training camp]," Alvarez said.