By Luke Furman
One month away from the biggest fight of his career, Eleider Alvarez has decided, along with his trainer Marc Ramsay, to go into exile in Bogota, Colombia to increase his chances of getting his hand raised when he challenges for the WBO light heavyweight belt.
After ten years of waiting, the boxer of Colombian origin will be able to obtain his first world title when he faces dangerous slugger Sergey Kovalev.
In 2009, Alvarez risked everything by leaving his home to reside in Canada. Quebec coach Marc Ramsay promised his charge a world championship fight in the coming years, and he managed to keep his promise.
The whole team is at the training center of the Colombian Olympic team, in Bogotá, where Alvarez was practicing before making a lot of sacrifices.
"I remember that I had suffered a lot here because of the altitude," said Alvarez to TVA Sports.
"I know I will still suffer in the next few days, but it's worth it because I'm going to give a good fight. "
Alvarez's only goal is to defeat one of the best light heavyweights on the planet. The 34-year-old pugilist does not lack motivation to dethrone the powerful Russian.
"When I train, it's in my head, every movement I make, I try to imagine his reaction," he says, all smiles.
The opponent well known to his trainer. Ramsay was in the corner of Jean Pascal when the latter had measured himself against Kovalev - which the Russia won by knockout.
But since that time, Kovalev has had the necesary time to change his style of fight, despite two defeats suffered against Andre Ward.
Ramsay claims that the fight between Kovalev and Alvarez will be centereed around the jab.
"The fight will also be played out around several elements, elements that we are currently working on in Colombia," says Ramsay.
At 34, Alvarez will have a lot at stake when he challenges Kovalev on August 4 in Atlantic City.
Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org
