Canelo Alvarez insists he has already faced a similar style to Caleb Plant heading into their undisputed super middleweight title clash in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs), the WBA ‘super’, WBC and WBO champion collides with IBF holder, Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) to crown the first undisputed 168lb champion in history at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Mexican four-weight world champion is undefeated in 15 outings since a sole professional defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013 and believes he has already tackled similar fighters to his undefeated American rival, who is considered an elusive, stylish boxer and has made three defences of the belt he won in 2019.
“I’ve faced many good fighters with skills that are similar to Caleb,” Alvarez said during Wednesday’s press conference.
“It’s a style that I’ve seen before and I know what to do with it. That just gives me confidence in my experience heading into this fight.
“I always train 100% my hardest and for the style of my opponent. I like that idea that Caleb is coming in believing he will win this fight. It’s going to make it more exciting for the fans.
“The goal is to be an all-time great. I’m so proud of the journey I’ve taken to achieve that. I’m not going to stop until I’ve tried my best to reach that goal.
“Only one thing is going through my mind, and that’s winning. Everything else is outside of my control. I only care about what’s going to happen inside of the ring Saturday night.”
Alvarez, who has maintained his prediction of a stoppage victory throughout the build-up, signed a one-fight deal with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions and SHOWTIME, after his last three bouts were with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, beating Callum Smith, Avni Yildirim and Billy Joe Saunders.
Victory for either man will ensure they become only the fifth man in history to hold all four major world titles, behind Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor, who is the only reigning undisputed champion, at 140lbs.
“My emotions are under control,” the 31-year-old added.
“I’m excited for the fight of course. I’m excited to become undisputed champion and to make history. That’s what I want. But I can remain calm, because this is what I do.
“Only five male fighters in the history of boxing have accomplished becoming undisputed champion. I want to be the sixth. That’s the only thing on my mind.
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“You’re going to want to tune-in to this fight. This fight is going to be history. You’re going to be witnessing something that you’re going to remember for a long time.”
