Canelo Alvarez sits down with Max Kellerman on behalf of RingTV to talk about his undisputed super middleweight title defense against Terence Crawford this weekend on Netflix. In this interview Canelo touches on numerous topics regarding the fight from recently sparring with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, to his own evolving style, his expectations for the Crawford fight and more. Check out some excerpts of what Canelo had to say below.
Canelo on sparring with ‘Boots’ Ennis
“I can’t say much but he called us and say if he can go and sparring with
me and everything and I say ‘of course,’ right. A fighter like me, we always want a great sparring…And I have history with the family because 14 years ago his older brother helped me for Sugar Shane Mosley and Alfonso Gomez. Derek Ennis, he helped me. He was 14 years old at that time, by the way. Was good, very good, and I’m very grateful with him because he make that time to go and give me a good work.”
On his style evolving from a counterpuncher to adopting a more pressure-based style
“I don’t need (to be elusive with my last several opponents) because they are slower than me. So I don’t need to start moving or keep moving…If I know I don’t need something, why am I going to do it? If I need it, I’m going to do it. So that’s why, because they are slower than me.
“But when a fighter is fast and throw a lot of punches and everything…I’m going to need (to use my boxing skills with Crawford) for sure. And you will see.”
On if he needs to impose his strength on Crawford of fight in a more slick style
“I can do a lot of things in the ring. If I need it, I can do a lot of things and I need to go and do my thing. Obviously I need to be intelligent, patient, but I need to go and put everything I got.”
On having exposure to a massive audience by this fighting streaming on Netflix
“I always put on a show. I always go in there and put my best. I’m not thinking in that way (to put on a better performance on this platform) because I always go with the mentality to win obviously, and I always try to do my best. And I think everything is going to come along.”
On being in a fight where he won’t get a lot of a credit if he wins but will be a major blemish if he loses
“It’s just opinions. For me it’s just opinions. I know Crawford for me is one of the best fighters of the last years and he accomplished a lot. So, for me means a lot, this win.”
On what kind of challenge Crawford presents to him
“Big one. For me it’s a very important fight to win. So I have that combination for this fight, motivation and my discipline I ever had in my life, my whole career. So discipline with motivation, that two combined is very good.”
