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Check out the best photos from the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo outdoor faceoff in Las Vegas.
Check out the best photos from Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoff between [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] and [autotag]Jermell Charlo[/autotag] at Toshiba Plaza in Las Vegas (via Getty Images).
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jemerll Charlo, one of the biggest boxing matches of the year, takes place Saturday in Las Vegas.
The official weights certainly don’t indicate a difference in size.
Super middleweight champion [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] and [autotag]Jermell Charlo[/autotag] both weighed in Friday at 167.4 pounds – 0.6 below the division limit — for their pay-per-view fight Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
That’s about 12 pounds more than Charlo, the 154-pound champ, has weighed for any fight in his career and about 15 more than he did for his most recent bout. He’s moving up two divisions to challenge Alvarez.
#CaneloCharlo final face off🔥
Order now: https://t.co/hm8UTDaKgQ pic.twitter.com/3CvEB2CH7E
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) September 29, 2023
Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) also hasn’t taken part in a fight of this magnitude, which might’ve been reflected in his demeanor at the relatively uneventful weigh-in outside T-Mobile, at Toshiba Plaza.
He rocked from side to side when he was being interviewed after he stepped off the scale as hundreds of mostly pro-Alvarez fans looked on. That might’ve been a product of both nerves and excitement.
“Every time I step into the ring you know what time it is,” he said. “No matter how they have him hyped up – he’s popular here – I love it, I enjoy it. … Hey, it’s time. I’m a bad motherf*cker.”
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Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) was more at ease because he has taken part in many high-profile fights. This is his 16th fight in Las Vegas.
The Mexican star was asked whether his perceived size advantage will be a significant factor. After all, Charlo is not accustomed to being hit by or hitting an opponent who has shared the ring with bigger men.
Alvarez dismissed the notion.
“I think it’s going to be a great fight,” he said. “The size factor doesn’t matter. I did that (fought at a higher weight) before and I felt good. It’ll be a great fight. I’m ready for everything.”
This story initially appeared on Boxing Junkie, another USA Today property.
Canelo Alvarez understands the importance of Saturday’s fight with Jermell Charlo.
[autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] acknowledged the obvious at Wednesday’s final news conference before he defends his 168-pound championship against [autotag]Jermell Charlo[/autotag] on pay-per-view Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I have to prove that I’m still on top,” he said, echoing the thoughts of everyone who has followed his career.
Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) has struggled in his past three fights, a unanimous decision loss to Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds and uninspiring nods over faded rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their third fight and John Ryder.
The Mexican superstar has attributed his subpar performances to injuries, including one to his left wrist that was surgically repaired late last year. He insists he’s healthy now and will prove he’s not in decline, as many have suggested.
He certainly understands the importance of this fight.
“I don’t know what animal I need to be, but I’m that animal,” he said. “Tune in on September 30. It’s gonna be good, believe me. I never overlook any fighter. I know what he’s gonna bring and I’m ready.
“I’ve been in there with all types of fighters. He hasn’t experienced this kind of level of fight. You will see and you will learn. I want history for my career. I want to achieve a lot of things. This is another one of them, and I can’t wait.
“People will always have something negative to say. I have to prove that I’m still on top.”
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Meanwhile, Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) believes this is his time.
The 154-pound champion has beaten everyone he has faced – including knockouts of Tony Harrison and Brian Castano in rematches following a loss and draw – to become one of the top fighters in the world.
However, he’s moving up two weight classes to face a future Hall of Famer who is still only 33, which also is Charlo’s age. This is new to him.
Still, he’s confident. He predicted that fans will see a second fight with Alvarez, who he suggested will exercise a rematch clause in the contract after the underdog has his hand raised in victory.
“You’re gonna see us back again for a rematch, because this is my moment,” he said. “I’m a warrior. I did what I had to do, and now we’re at this moment. I don’t think Canelo has faced a fighter of my caliber.
“He’s been in there with great fighters, but there’s something I bring to the table that’s a lot different than anyone he’s seen. … What I’ve been through in life, a lot of people can’t compare to that. I deserve to be in my position and now I get to prove my worthiness.
“I’m coming to win this fight, no matter what he says. We shall see Saturday. … Making history means everything to me. That’s what it’s all about.”
Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.
Jermell Charlo presents Canelo Alvarez with one of his most interesting matchups in years. Boxing Junkie breaks it down.
This is one of [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag]’s most interesting matchups in years.
[autotag]Jermell Charlo[/autotag], the hot 154-pound champion, is moving up two weight classes to challenge a 168-pound king many believe is in decline on pay-per-view Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
That information alone could lead to all kinds of realistic scenarios, including ones in which each man has his hand raised after the fight.
Boxing Junkie does its best to break down the fight and give a prediction below.
The Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo title fight had a referee and three judges assigned at a Nevada commission meeting Tuesday.
The officials have been selected for one of boxing’s biggest fights of 2023.
Tuesday at a Nevada Athletic Commission meeting, executive director Jeff Mullen put forth his recommendations for the referee and judges to officiate [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jermell Charlo[/autotag] on Sept. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Mullen’s recommendations passed unanimously.
Harvey Dock will receive $4,150 to referee the 12-round title bout. The judges will be Max DeLuca, David Sutherland, and Steve Weisfeld, who will each receive $2,950 each.
The co-main event, a WBC welterweight title bout between Yordenis Ugas and Mario Barrios, will be refereed by Tom Taylor ($2,250), the commission also announced. The judges will be Tim Cheatham, Chris Flores, and Steve Weisfeld ($1,950 each).
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Alvarez will put his IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC super middleweight titles on the line vs. Charlo. He’s won back-to-back fights since his May 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol.
Charlo is 4-0-1 in his most recent five bouts since a December 2018 loss to Tony Harrison. He most recently competed in May 2022 when he defeated Brian Castano by TKO.
Check out the current Canelo vs. Charlo fight card below:
Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.
The first news conference for Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo featured two deadly serious, focused fighters.
No trash talk. No drama. Just two deadly serious, focused fighters.
That was the tone at the kickoff news conference Tuesday afternoon in New York City to promote the pay-per-view fight between undisputed champions [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] and [autotag]Jermell Charlo[/autotag] on Sept. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The fighters demonstrated nothing but respect for one another — even shaking hands after their staredown — and promised a battle to remember.
“I’m happy to be in this position right now, in the big fights,” said Alvarez, the 168-pound champion. “Jermell Charlo is a great fighter, the undisputed champion in his weight class (154). He takes challenges like me.
“I always take risks. We love being involved in these kind of fights.”
Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) was expected to face Charlo’s brother, 160-pound titleholder Jermall Charlo. However, promoters threw everyone a curve when they announced the smaller, but more accomplished sibling would be the opponent.
The Mexican star has been at or near the top of all pound-for-pound lists while Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) has steadily climbed them, the result of a series of high-profile victories.
And while Charlo has never taken part in a superfight like this one, he seemed to handle the bright spotlight well at the opening news conference at Palladium Times Square.
He looked intense, perhaps a bit nervous as he walked to the center stage after he was introduced. However, he was at ease during his opening statement and when he fielded questions from moderator Brian Custer of Showtime.
The big question for Charlo is size, as he will be moving up two weight classes to face a future Hall of Famer. Charlo is taller than Alvarez and didn’t look appreciably thinner but he’s accustomed to trading punches with 154-pounders, not those at 168.
He acknowledged the challenge but believes the importance of size is overblown.
“A lot of guys are worrying about the wrong things,” he said, “moving up in weight, doing this and doing that. When you want to win something this big you gotta risk it all. That’s part of this moment.”
He added later: “I know I’m moving up two weight divisions. Who cares? Who gives a damn? That won’t stop how I do it and the way I do it. I’m excited for this moment.”
Alvarez was more relaxed when he walked to the middle of the stage, smiling and waving to those in attendance. He has been here a million times.
He’s clearly motivated, though. The long-time face of the sport is arguably at a crossroads. He lost his first fight in almost a decade when he was easily outpointed by 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol in May of last year, and he looked so-so in subsequent decisions over rival Gennadiy Golovkin and John Ryder.
As a result, many have come to the conclusion that Alvarez is in decline at 33, this in spite of the fact that he has been fighting with an injured left wrist. He had surgery after the Golovkin fight.
He implied two things on Tuesday: that his wrist is fully healed and that the magnitude of the event has lit a fire underneath him.
“It’s good that people are talking about that,” Alvarez said. “It’s fine. I don’t look good in these two past fights … but I know why. But I’m ready. I’m different now. I prepare myself for different kinds of fights. Every fight is different.
“This is a different fight. And I’m focused on it.”
Charlo also is motivated by those who might dismiss him, meaning both men have something to prove. That could be the theme of this matchup.
“I just really want to quiet by haters, quiet my doubters,” he said, “to turn non-believers into believers. I’ve watched a bunch of different examples of great people in the sport of boxing. I think this is the best time and the best moment for me. … When the moment presented itself, under the PBC banner, it was a no brainer to make it happen.
“Yeah, we both have mandatories, we both have different things. But the hell with that when you have something as big as this.”
Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.
Canelo Alvarez didn’t give Mexican fans what they wanted, but he still took a step forward.
[autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] didn’t give his fans what they wanted, but he still took a step forward.
The undisputed 168-pound champion put challenger [autotag]John Ryder[/autotag] down but he couldn’t take out the bloody, but resilient Englishman, instead settling for a unanimous decision victory in his homecoming fight Saturday near Guadalajara, Mexico.
The official scores were 120-107, 118-109 and 118-109. Boxing Junkie scored it 117-110 for Alvarez, nine rounds to three.
“He’s a strong fighter, man,” said Alvarez, referring to Ryder. “When they come for everything, they become more difficult. I’ve been in this position a long time. I never underestimate an opponent because I know they’re coming for everything.
“… He’s a strong fighter. I knew that. I’m not surprised.”
CANELO ALVAREZ GETS THE WIN OVER JOHN RYDER IN MEXICO! 🇲🇽#CaneloRyder pic.twitter.com/2hmWcj2B8Z
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 7, 2023
Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) was fighting in his hometown for the first time since 2011, which he acknowledged afterward put added pressure on his shoulders.
He also was coming off surgery late last year to repair an injured left wrist, although he became convinced that it had fully healed after throwing it – particularly to the body – over the first few rounds of the fight Saturday.
Still, he demonstrated once again that even a good, rugged fighter like Ryder will be hard-pressed to give Alvarez a genuine challenge.
Alvarez began pressuring Ryder early in the fight and never relented, pounding the challenger to the body with his left and to the head with his right while Ryder tried to match his output and not get hit with any big bombs.
Of course, that’s next to impossible, as we found out in Round 5. Alvarez put Ryder down and might’ve broken his nose in Round 5 with a perfect left-right combination. It wasn’t clear during the count whether the dazed, bloodied Ryder would be able to get up but he did.
And he gutted out the rest of the round, clearly demonstrating that he had no intention of quitting at any time in the fight.
Ryder actually had some decent rounds after that. He largely matched Alvarez’s work rate and avoided more damaging blows, although the fact he could never hurt the champion made his mission next to impossible.
Then came another harrowing moment in Round 9. Alvarez rocked Ryder with a right hand to the head and followed with a flurry of punches that had referee Michael Griffin thinking hard about stopping the fight.
However, once again, the tough Londoner managed to survive and then continue to fight back with stunning determination.
Alvarez tried one more time to finish the job in the 12th and final round, when at one point he pounded his gloves together in an attempt to get Ryder into one final firefight but the final bell sounded with the challenger standing on his feet.
If the champion was disappointed that he couldn’t put Ryder away, he hid it well. He said simply, “I’m happy with the fight.”
He was ecstatic that he could perform in front of 50,000 of his devoted fans at Estadio Akron, a stadium normally used for the professional soccer teams in the area.
“This was a historic moment for me,” he said. “I’m blessed to be here with my people. Like I always said, the people who have supported me from the beginning. I’m glad to be here. I’m very thankful to my people.”
More history could lie ahead.
Alvarez is only two fights removed from one of the most disappointing nights of his career, a unanimous decision loss to 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol in May of last year.
He has made it clear that he wants the opportunity to avenge the setback in September. However, he and the Russian star will have to work out some details. Bivol wants to move down in weight and fight for the undisputed 168-pound championship while Alvarez wants to fight again at 175 so he can reverse the earlier outcome.
Alvarez could end up getting his way given his clout.
“Everybody knows I want a rematch with Bivol,” he said. “If the Bivol fight doesn’t happen, we’ll see. I’m happy to fight anybody. I want the same rules, the same terms, the same everything [for a second fight with Bivol].”
He was asked, “Why?”
“I just want it that way.”
Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.
If anyone deserves a one-time pass, it’s Canelo Alvarez in light of his track record and current circumstances.
John Ryder?
It’s difficult to get excited about the opponent in [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag]’s pay-per-view fight Saturday night in Zapopan, Mexico, near Alvarez’s hometown of Guadalajara.
The undisputed 168-pound champion built his reputation in part on fighting one elite opponent after another en route to winning titles in four divisions and becoming the biggest star in the sport.
Ryder, roughly a 10-1 underdog, doesn’t stir the imagination at all. He’s just an opponent.
And that’s OK. If anyone deserves a one-time pass, it’s Alvarez in light of his track record and current circumstances.
1️⃣ week for #CaneloRyder Are you ready? 🇲🇽
May 6 | Live on https://t.co/cttCbHkZ6a @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/ewSIvEPy1p
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) April 29, 2023
First of all, the fact that Ryder is relatively obscure doesn’t mean he can’t fight. He can. The 35-year-old Londoner proved that with strong performances in a disputed loss to Callum Smith and a victory over Daniel Jacobs.
And he’s the mandatory challenger to Alvarez’s WBO title, which means in theory Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) has to fight Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) to preserve his belt.
“Every fight is dangerous,” Alvarez said. “I’m training 100 percent for Ryder and I will be ready.”
Second, Alvarez, 32, is coming off surgery shortly after his victory over rival Gennadiy Golovkin last September to repair damaged cartilage in his left wrist, which he said has been a painful problem in his last three fights.
The injury has healed – or he wouldn’t be fighting – but it makes sense to ease back into action against a fighter like Ryder rather than jump into a rematch with Dmitry Bivol or another stiff test.
Third, this fight is more about Alvarez’s homecoming than the matchup. He hasn’t fought in his native country since November 2011 and in his region since June of that year.
It reminds me of Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez’s 1993 fight against Greg Haugen in front of 130,000-plus at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. That event was a celebration of a generational talent and the love of Chavez’s countryman, not a great matchup.
Alvarez deserves the right to pay homage to his fans – a crowd of 50,000 is expected to pack Estadio Akron – in a similar fashion. He’s earned that.
And, finally, a genuine challenge will come next. Alvarez has made it clear that he intends to face 175-pound titleholder Bivol a second time in September, assuming things go well on Saturday night.
Bivol stunned Alvarez and the boxing world a year ago by handing the superstar his first loss since Floyd Mayweather easily outpointed the then-23-year-old in 2013. All three judges had the Russian winning by the same score, 115-113, which didn’t reflect the winner’s dominance.
Many experts believe that Bivol would repeat his victory, which should dispel any notion that Alvarez’s decision to face Ryder means he’s avoiding tough fights.
Alvarez is the same man who faced the likes of Shane Mosley, Austin Trout, Mayweather, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto, a prime Golovkin twice and Sergey Kovalev. He doesn’t seek out soft touches.
He’ll face Bivol in September if nothing unforeseen happens in the meantime. And then, win or lose, he’ll move on to other serious challenges.
That could mean a meeting with the opponent most fans want him to face, 168-pound contender David Benavidez. If not, you can bet he’ll target other potential foes who have higher profiles than Ryder.
For now, enjoy a decent matchup on Saturday and then look forward to bigger, better things.
Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.
Many observers believe Canelo Alvarez isn’t what he used to be, and he’s well aware ahead of his May 6 fight in Guadalajara.
Many observers believe [autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] isn’t what he used to be. Even he said, “I’m not at my best.”
Maybe that’s why he’s facing capable, but limited John Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) instead of a more significant threat in his homecoming fight on May 6 at 48,000-seat Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The undisputed 168-pound champ hasn’t fought there since 2011.
Alvarez’s last 22 fights have taken place in the United States, including his first loss in almost a decade, a decision against 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol last May.
“I’m so excited to show everybody they’re wrong,” he said recently at a news conference in San Diego, a reference to his doubters. “I feel very good. I have a lot of years in my career, 17 years as a pro. I’ve had injuries too. I’m not at my best, but I’m very motivated, and I’m very happy to be in the gym, to train at 100 percent, and they’re going to see what is coming. I’m very excited and motivated. Be careful with that.
“He (Ryder) has everything to win, nothing to lose, right? He’s always there, fighting with the good fighters, trying to get that opportunity, and now he got it. It’s going to be a danger for me, but I feel good.”
Canelo’s return to his hometown obviously is important to the 32-year-old, who built himself into a star north of the border but always took pride in his roots. He evidently enjoyed a news conference in Guadalajara to kick off the promotion as much or more than any other in his career because of all the familiar faces on hand.
“The press conference in Guadalajara was an unbelievable moment for me because I saw my grandma, my dad, my mom, my brothers, my family there,” he said. “A lot of media guys I saw when I started boxing. For me, I feel very proud and happy to bring this fight to Guadalajara and give the people some of the experience I have in other places as the best in the world. …
“I think it’s the perfect time. A long time ago I wanted to fight in Guadalajara, but I think this is the perfect moment, the perfect fight to bring to Guadalajara.”
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Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) rebounded from the loss to Bivol by outpointing rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their third fight in September. He had surgery to repair a nagging injury in his left wrist shortly afterward.
Eddy Reynoso, his trainer, said the wrist is now fine and his protégé is looking forward to more legacy-building matchups, including a possible rematch with Bivol.
“We’re not going to let down, we’re not going to retire,” Reynoso said. “… We’re going to return with all four belts that he came with, and that’s something that we’re going to do with pride. We also just really want to put on a good show for the fans.
“He had a great rehabilitation for his hand, and we’ve been working hard. He’s at 100 percent and this is going to be a huge 2023. He’s going to go up against lots of challenges this year in his career and we’re excited for what’s to come this year.”
Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.
Canelo Alvarez is sorry.
[autotag]Canelo Alvarez[/autotag] is sorry.
The boxing champion has issued an apology to soccer star Lionel Messi, as well as the nation of Argentina, following multiple threats and accusations on Twitter in recent days.
On Sunday, Canelo accused Messi of disrespecting Mexico after a video surfaced where Messi was seen taking off his cleats, and Messi’s foot appears to make contact with a Mexico jersey that was on the floor of their locker room after their 2-0 win over Mexico in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Canelo says he got carried by the emotions and was clearly in the wrong.
“These last few days I got carried away by the passion and love I feel for my country and made comments that were out of place, for which I want to apologize to Messi and the people of Argentina,” Canelo wrote Wednesday on Twitter. “Every day we learn something new, and this time it was my turn.
“I wish both teams much success in their matches today, and here we will continue supporting Mexico until the end.”
Estos últimos días me dejé llevar por la pasión y el amor que siento por mi país e hice comentarios que estuvieron fuera de lugar por lo que quiero disculparme con Messi y la gente de Argentina. Todos los días aprendemos algo nuevo y esta vez me tocó a mí.
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) November 30, 2022
Les deseo mucho éxito a ambas selecciones en sus partidos de hoy y aquí seguiremos apoyando a México hasta el final 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) November 30, 2022
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