Canelo Alvarez is expecting a challenging opening few rounds, but has predicted a knockout victory over Caleb Plant within eight rounds of their undisputed super middleweight title clash.
Unified WBA ‘Super’, WBC and WBO champion, Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) and IBF titlist, Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) vie to become the first undisputed 168lb fighter in history at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas on November 6.
The pair traded blows at the face-off prior to the first press conference last month and Alvarez admits this is the most animosity he has had with a fighter in his whole career, ahead of what will be his 70th professional fight.
“It’s new for me to have this much bad blood with an opponent,” the 31-year-old told SHOWTIME.
“It’s very different from normal and it’s definitely the most animosity I’ve had with an opponent heading into a big fight.
“I delivered the message I had to at our press conference. I don’t have to say anything else to Plant. I’m just going to prepare to face him in the ring on November 6.
“I’ve never been involved in anything like what happened at the first press conference between me and Caleb. Whether it sells the fight or not, the most important thing for me is to become undisputed on November 6.
“I’ve been in the ring for huge fights like this a lot of times. For him, it’s going to be a challenge being in there for a fight of this magnitude for the first time. He’s going to have to control his emotions.”
Victory for the four-weight world champion would see him claim all four world titles within the space of 11 months having dethroned then-WBA ’Super’ champion, Callum Smith in December, where he also picked up the vacant WBC belt and beaten WBO titlist, Billy Joe Saunders in May, after a comfortable defence against Avni Yildirim in February.
Plant has made three defences of the title he won with a unanimous decision over Jose Uzcategui in January, most recently overcoming Caleb Truax over the distance in January.
Canelo, who is undefeated in 15 bouts since a sole loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013 is confident of stopping the undefeated American within eight rounds.
“I’m sticking with my prediction of a knockout before round eight,” Alvarez added.
“The first couple of rounds will be difficult, but as the fight progresses, I am going to be able to get him out of there.
“I’m a complete fighter. I can do various things in the ring. I can be aggressive, I can counterpunch, I can move. At the end of the day, I know I have to be a complete fighter. That’s what I’ve learned to be under Eddy Reynoso.
“Caleb is a good boxer, he has a good jab and he moves very well. But it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I’m just going to use my skills and experience to win the fight.”
The winner of the clash will become just the fifth undisputed champion in the four-belt era with Josh Taylor the only current undisputed champion.
Canelo is widely considered as one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all-time and he says he acknowledges the significance of the fight for his country and his legacy.
“This is very important for my country of Mexico. This is one of the most important fights of my life. I’m taking it very seriously and a win means a lot to me.
View this post on Instagram
“I don’t want to compare myself to great Mexican champions of the past. I just want to go out and make my own history. In the end, I want to be considered one of the best along with the legends who came before me.”
