Translation: Nación ESPN Exclusive Interview with Saul "El Canelo" Álvarez

Enjoy.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV37HiM-Fuk

Osuna: Canelo, what’s the difference in concentration for the most important fight of your career?

Canelo: Well, we’re all different. Really we’ve been working differently, because we always work differently for our opponents, but always 100% with that enthusiasm that characterizes us, with that enthusiasm, with that will, we always like to work at 100%. We feel very happy, very motivated, and we’re ready for this great challenge.

Osuna: It’s the most important fight of your career against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mentally, how has your focus been? Because I imagine that it would have to be different for this type of fight.

Canelo: That’s right, we’re preparing ourselves very well, physically and mentally, for this fight. It’s a very complicated fight, it’s going to be a very hard fight. But that’s what we’re preparing for, with adequate sparring partners with the same style as Mayweather, when we work on the mitts, everything we do is with the style of Mayweather. Obviously it is a difficult style, but we know how to penetrate it.

Osuna: Your trainer, El Chapo, mentioned to us that for this fight in particular, sparring has been of utmost importance. He’s kept the names pretty hidden, but what has been the difference in these sparring sessions? Because not only is the amount of sparring different, but the quality of sparring as well.

Canelo: That’s right. It’s been different because obviously you need to find partners with his style, it’s very difficult. Well, there are a lot with his style, but not as good as he is with it. So we’ve been working very well; they’ll stick their elbow out, the forearm, they’ll do things similar to what Mayweather does, so we’ve been working really well and I think we’ll come in very good.

Osuna: Of the 44 fights in Floyd Mayweather’s 36 years of age, none have been able to bypass the factor of the elbow. All of them come in with a plan, and it’s very frustrating, because as long as the referee doesn’t say anything to him, the elbow will be there. It seems you have another plan to counter that.

Canelo: That’s right. We have a lot of plans because he can change the fight from one moment to the next. We’re going to come in with many gameplans. I think the important thing in this fight is to not become desperate, to go bit by bit, bit by bit, and like I said, have several plans ready for anything.

Osuna: Which fight has taught you the most?

Canelo: All of them, all of them give me lessons to learn. Getting a cut was a new experience for me to handle; I think all those fights leave you with a different experience. With Trout, I sacrificed throwing punches so I could move my waist; all those fights give you different experiences. So all fights give you an experience, probably one or two things you learn, but all fights give you experience.

Osuna: You’re used to stepping into the ring as the role of the favorite. Now, Floyd, although the odds have gotten close, continues to be the betting favorite. How does your manner of preparation or mentality change with knowing that there are those who doubt that you can beat Floyd?

Canelo: I think in every fight, there are people who doubt you’re going to win. The mentality that I have is really strong, that motivates me a lot, those are things that motivate me a lot. And I knew that (going in), but it’s something I wanted, and it motivates me a lot.

Osuna: Where was that confidence born? Because it’s not from today; it’s embedded into your being now, knowing that every time you step into the ring, you’re going to win.

Canelo: That’s my way of life, having a winning mentality, it’s obviously in the work and discipline I have in the gym. When you do things right, they can’t come out wrong, and that gives me the confidence to get in there and say nothing less than “I’m going to win”.

Osuna: What have you learned during this tour, because I’m sure it was exhausting to go to so many cities in such few days?

Canelo: Right, I learned a lot, more than anything I enjoyed it a lot, the cities, the people there showing support. Obviously I hadn’t been to a lot of those cities, I hadn’t met those people, and I enjoyed it a lot. It was a new experience for me.

Osuna: The fact that the public was so in your favor surprised Floyd. How did so much affection and support affect you?

Canelo: It’s an extra motivation, because I have a responsibility with all of them, and with myself. But that’s what the work is for, to assume that responsibility. And I’m very grateful to those people, I’ve always said so, I’m very grateful for the support they show me. The way I can repay them is with triumphs, and that’s why I prepare myself better each day. That’s why I get up every day to strain even stronger; because I know I have a great responsibility.

Osuna: You have a tricolor cap on. What does it mean for you, on September 14th, to be a Mexican boxer getting in that ring?

Canelo: I’m very proud, very proud to be Mexican, to represent the country I do, and that date is very important to us. I really feel very happy, very motivated, and it’s something important to us Mexicans apart from my fight. And I feel very proud to represent my country on that date.

Osuna: In terms of Mexican boxing-because in any corner of the world, you’re going to find people that know what it means to be a Mexican boxer. What does it mean for you to represent Aztec Pugilism?

Canelo: Yes, it’s a great honor. A great honor, and a great responsibility, because there have been so many champions, very good champions, legends of boxing in Mexico, and so it’s also a great responsibility. So that’s why I’m here, working hard to represent it like it should be.

Osuna: What boxers inspire or have inspired you?

Canelo: Well, no boxer has inspired me to box, my brother was the biggest one, but when I started watching boxing, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Muhammad Ali; I watched videos, obviously they weren't in my time, but I saw videos; “Mantequilla” Napoles, Gilberto Roman I also saw. I saw many, but mainly Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya.

Osuna: In terms of your legacy, when all of this is over, the 15th of September is the beginning of your legacy. What will it be?

Canelo: That’s right. A new era begins for me that day. A new era begins on September 14th, and it will be for many years that El Canelo remains.

Osuna: At these heights, you’re so young, you’ve had so much success; have you ever planted in your mind, what would happen if you didn’t win for the first time-

Canelo: No-

Osuna: -the 14th of September?

Canelo: No.

Osuna: That’s the mentality of a winner, to never think of defeat.

Canelo: I’ve never thought about it, nor has it ever passed through my head.

Osuna: And have you ever thought how your world might change, how it would change, with a victory on September 14th?

Canelo: Yes. I always think about it, I always visualize it. And it would be really great for me and for many others.

Osuna: Floyd has 2 knockouts in his last 9 fights. Is your biggest advantage your punch (power), or do you have others?

Canelo: No, many. That’s one of the advantages too, but obviously I have a lot. He’s obviously a very intelligent fighter, but I also have many things I can do to him in the ring, and September 14th, we’re going to see them.

Osuna: You gave up 2 pounds for the day of the weigh-in in order to make this fight. The night of the fight, will you look to be the heavier man, or will you have to come in a specific weight in order to combat his speed and movement?

Canelo: I’m going to go up as many pounds as I have to in order to come in strong and fast, not come in strong but all heavy; as many as I need to come up with pure strength, and be nice and light too.

Osuna: We’ve seen Floyd wear Sombreros, he’s won against the 8 Mexican opponents he’s faced; do you feel a responsibility in being the first from Mexico to beat Floyd?

Canelo: Of course I do. And with myself as well, I feel it (the responsibility) with myself. That’s why I’m working so hard and I know that we’re going to win that day.

 

It's possible, he has the reach to bypass it somewhat. I'm thinking he'll likely use some inside maneuver though, maybe he'll try to use his weight to lean on the left arm, use his own right arm, or side-step and get a side-angle on Floyd (very underused tactic).