Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) and Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) have opened up about training camp ahead of their September 17 clash at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Canelo is training in San Diego while Liam Smith is training on his home turf in Liverpool, England.
“Both Canelo and Liam Smith’s camps are looking great, and I can see that these fighters have clearly become bigger and stronger with their training regimens,” said Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Having trained like this myself, I can tell that both will be going in for the kill come fight night, as we can see these fighters demonstrating abundant strength and power.”
“My training camp will last a total of seven weeks,” said Canelo Alvarez. “My focus is becoming a world champion-that’s the main purpose of this fight. To become a world champion one more time will be sweet and memorable. This victory would be for all my Mexican fans and those all over the world. On fight night, the fans can expect to see two explosive styles clashing in the first round. The iconic venue will be amazing that night and everyone will not be disappointed.”
“I know Liam Smith has a similar style as mine,” continued Alvarez. “He likes to trade punches and that will make a terrific fight. I don’t like to make predictions or announce my strategy. But one thing I can say is that it will be a fight to remember. I am planning a big surprise when I get into the ring. The fans inside the AT&T Stadium and those ones watching at home will witness something special.”
“Canelo’s experience will be his fundamental advantage over Liam Smith in his fight,” said Eddy Reynoso, head trainer to Canelo Alvarez. “Canelo has fought a tremendous amount of talented fighters and I believe that will be the difference is this fight.”
“Training camp will have been 12 weeks and the focus is to be in great shape and bully the bully. The fans should expect a great fight, a war,” said Liam Smith. “Both of us have great variety and both box better on the front foot so we know nobody is going to want to give that up.”
“I know Canelo will put up a very good fight and can fight and box-he’s a solid 154, but my strategy is to match him with everything, then go one step further and do things he doesn’t want to do,” continued Smith. “I think I have already surprised my fans and a lot of others with my size, I know many thought Canelo was a monster and a lot bigger than me, which he isn’t, but they will be also surprised how much I raise my game with a better fighter in front of me. A win is going to mean everything, it’s going to change my life, give me a better future and announce myself as the best 154 pound fighter in the world.”
“Liam is a focused World Champion out to prove he a worthy world champ, said Joe Gallagher, Ring Magazine 2015 Trainer of the Year and trainer to Liam Smith. “He is under no pressure. All pressure is on Canelo as challenger to win and win in style on Mexican Independence Day Weekend.”
Canelo Alvarez was last seen in the ring defeating former WBC Silver Welterweight Champion Amir “King” Khan by devastating six-round knockout of their scheduled 12-round middleweight world championship match. Liam Smith has defeated eight of his last opponents by way of knockout-all before the third round. As the current WBO Junior Middleweight World Champ after his thrilling victory over Predrag “Pedja” Radosevic, “Beefy” will not go down without a relentless fight to maintain his title.
