Chelyabinsk, Russia – One of the most feared punchers of the modern era, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, will enter the ring one final time this Friday, April 18, live from Chelyabinsk,  with fans around the world able to watch for free via Boxing News on YouTube and Facebook.

The former unified light-heavyweight world champion will face Artur Mann, a German-based Kazakh, as part of the IBA Champions tournament, closing the curtain on a career that spanned 16 years and defined an era of elite 175lb boxing.

The fight will air globally via Boxing News, the world’s largest independent boxing media outlet, beginning at 5:30pm UK time. Russian viewers can tune in on Match! TV.

MAIN EVENT RING WALK TIMES:

• 1:30AM (Chelyabinsk)
• 9:30PM (UK)
• 4:30PM (ET)
• 1:30PM (PT)

Kovalev, now 42, leaves behind a legacy punctuated by high-voltage knockouts and unforgettable nights. From his 2009 debut to his emphatic destruction of Nathan Cleverly in 2013 that made him WBO champion, Kovalev quickly built a reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous men.

He went on to unify world titles and defeat legends like Bernard Hopkins, while earning notable wins against Jean Pascal and Eleider Alvarez. His two closely contested losses to Andre Ward in 2016 and 2017 marked the beginning of a decline, but his name remained a feared one in the division.

Kovalev’s final outing will take place in his home region of Chelyabinsk – a fitting stage for the conclusion of a 35-5-1 (29 KOs) career. It comes nearly a year after his last appearance, a 10-round points loss to Robin Sirwan Safar in Riyadh.

Sergey Kovalev said: “I am looking forward to having the final fight of my career here in my home of Chelyabinsk. People are excited because it has been a long time since I have been in the ring. Artur Mann is a strong opponent for me to face, so I am also excited to put on a show for those who have supported me in my career.”

“I have been fortunate to travel and make many fans from around the world, so for my supporters in the United States and United Kingdom, it pleases me that they will see my final fight for free on the Boxing News YouTube channel.”

Al Siesta, CEO of IBA Pro and Promoter of Friday’s fight night, said: “IBA Pro is proud and honoured to showcase the final fight of Sergey’s legendary career. Sergey is a fighter who has always brought tremendous value and excitement to fans across the globe, which is why it was so important for us at IBA Pro to make this show available for free internationally on the Boxing News YouTube channel – so fans from all over the world can tune in and witness Krusher’s final chapter!”

“It is our great pleasure to bring this fight to fans, for free, through our international broadcast partners Boxing News. We have a full night of action in Chelyabinsk, featuring several of the region’s top emerging talent and some potential stars of the future, so watch this space! IBA Pro is here to deliver compelling, competitive match-ups for fans… and you can see that, for free, on Friday night on the Boxing News YouTube channel.”

FIGHT CARD:

SERGEY KOVALEV (35-5-1) vs ARTUR MANN (22-4-0)

TIMUR BIBILOV (7-0-0) vs JOSHUA WASIKE (5-0-0)

AKHMADSHOKH MAKHMADSHOEVS (3-0-1) vs ARTEM PUGACH (3-7-4)

ALBINA MOLDAZHANOVA (debut) vs NURIYAT ALIBEKOVA (debut)

WATCH LIVE:

• Global: Boxing News YouTube & Facebook (from 5:30pm UK time)
• Russia: Match! TV
• Main Event Ringwalk: 1:30AM (Chelyabinsk) / 9:30PM (UK) / 4:30PM (ET) / 1:30PM (PT)

Los Angeles, May 11, 2022 — Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev (34-4, 29 KOs), living in Long Beach, CA, will fight Tervel Pulev in his cruiserweight debut on Saturday, May 14 at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA and will be streamed live on Triller and Fite.tv.

Tickets, starting at $31.00, are on sale and may be purchased through TrillerFightClub.com, TheLAForum.com, and Ticketmaster.com at http://www.ticketmaster.com/trillerverz5

The Krusher says “My motivation to keep going? First is money (laughing) and money is energy. Second is my son. I want to become world champion once again so he can see that ‘don’t ever give up.’ Right now, it is all for my kids. I tell them and show them to follow your dreams and your dreams will come true. If I ended my boxing career right now, I would feel uncomfortable for the rest of my life.

“Since I lost my title to Canelo, I am not on the top. Since I changed to cruiserweight it has changed everything, most importantly I don’t have to worry about losing the weight. Actually, the last two years fighting at light heavyweight, and making 175, was miserable for me.”

2019 “was a crazy year” for Kovalev. In February, Sergey won back the title from Eleider Alvarez. Then the WBO ordered a mandatory defense against Anthony Yarde that was first scheduled June in Russia. He arrived in Russia one month before the fight and “was right on weight at 182.” The fight was soon cancelled the first week of June and rescheduled for August 24 “so I went back home to US and during those three weeks we celebrated my wife’s birthday and all the sudden I got back to 200 pounds,” which is his regular walk-around weight. Training camp for the new date began June 20 and on July 20 he returned to Russia. “The day after the Yarde win, I got the offer to fight Canelo, and two weeks later returned to training camp. Some fighters fight for their legacy, I fight to fight. I have never turned down a fight.

“The night of the Canelo fight, we are at the door to begin the ring walk and a fella with a headset came to us and said, ‘we are not ready, we have to wait for the other fights (the UFC card) to finish.’ We waited for another hour. An hour! I went to the corner after round seven and I said to Buddy ,”Buddy, I am spent, totally,” and he said “I see.”

“Now I feel fresh. Making 175 was killing me. I was at the point either quit or move up in weight. Now I can eat everything at any time.”

“This is a new step in my boxing career. I plan to fight a couple more years. No more than three years. I am not sure how many fights it will take to get a title. But if I win a title next year – then I will stop. How long will it take to get a title shot? It could be a two or three year wait, but we will see. I can fight into my 40’s no problem. I just had two years off. I am fresh.”

But on the other hand, after May 14, if Jake Paul wants to fight, I will be ready, and I will knock him out.”

Sergey is being trained by Buddy McGirt and his strength and conditioning coach is Teddy Cruz. They are the duo that reinvented Arturo Gatti.

Los Angeles, May 2, 2022 — Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev (34-4, 29 KOs), living in Long Beach, CA, will fight Tervel Pulev in his cruiserweight debut on Saturday, May 14 at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA and will be streamed live on Triller and Fite.tv.

Tickets, starting at $37.00, are on sale and may be purchased through TrillerFightClub.com, TheKiaForum.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com/Trillerverz5

Sergey is being trained by Buddy McGirt and his strength and conditioning coach is Teddy Cruz. They are the duo that reinvented Arturo Gatti.

“Buddy was a real smart boxer and a real smart trainer and coach. Sometimes a good boxer can’t be a good coach and sometimes a coach wasn’t a good boxer. But Buddy has it both ways – good boxer and good coach. He does what he needs to do to get me prepared the best for the fight. Buddy gives me tactics and sound techniques and strategy. Together we are working towards getting another world title, this time in the cruiserweight division and become champion for the fourth time.”

For this eight-week training camp Sergey is staying in a hotel in close to the park where he runs and his boxing gym is a twenty minutes away in Van Nuys. “The most difficult part of my career right now is being away from my family,” said Kovalev. “Ten years ago it was just me, now I have a wife and two kids. To be away from them for two months is tough.”

Kovalev hits the boxing gym at 5 pm daily. He spars three days a week and is off on Sunday.

An evening sparring would last about 1.5 hours and go as such: (1) Jump rope 4 rounds (2) Shadow box 4 rounds (3) Spar 7 rounds (4) Neck exercises.

A non-sparring evening workout would be technical training and some game plan.

The Krusher arrives at the fitness gym early morning – every day except for Sunday – with strength and conditioning coach/extraordinaire Teddy Cruz. They will do a workout depending on how much boxing workout he does the evening prior.

The morning after a sparring day would be a low intensity 45-minute session and include: (1) Warm up stretch for 5-10 minutes (2) Squats combined with shoulder presses – 20 reps with 25 lb. dumbbells (3) Step lunges with torso twisting with 10 lbs. medicine ball for 20 reps, (4) Static lunges with curls for 20 reps with 25lbs dumbbells (5) Abs for 600 reps

The morning after light boxing training would be a more intense workout such as: sprints for the legs and punching sprints for the arms, “or he can go run 5 miles.”

This will be Kovalev’s first fight since November 2, 2019. “When you don’t fight for a long time you lose boxing skills. On the other hand the time off has helped me rest and get rid of all of my injuries – it’s like a renewal.

“My first two weeks of sparring I couldn’t touch my opponent (laughing) mostly because I was heavy, about 210 lbs. But then by week three, I had lost some weight and my boxing skills came back. By May 14, I will be at 187 pounds and there will be no rust.

“I don’t really study my opponents. I will watch one or two rounds from his last couple of fights so I can see what style he likes – does he like to fight inside or from a distance then I can prepare. I just can’t wait to get inside the ring and show the world who is the best cruiserweight on the planet.

Kovalev was initially preparing to fight Fanlong Meng but then “Egis (Klimas, manager) called me and said, “you have a new opponent – it is Pulev.” I said “Pulev? He is a heavyweight,” and Egis said “no, he has a brother that is a cruiserweight,” so I said “OK, Let’s go.”

“The only difference in the opponent change to me is we were initially training for a southpaw, now we are training for a rightpaw.”

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 15, 2021) – The Kovalev vs. Melikuziev boxing event scheduled for Jan. 30 has been cancelled following a positive test for a banned substance on behalf of Sergey Kovalev through the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

Upon learning of Kovalev’s adverse finding, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) determined that they must cancel the event.

While we are crushed for “The Bully” (Melikuziev), we know that he will nevertheless have a tremendous year in 2021. We look forward to our next scheduled boxing event on Feb. 13.

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2020): Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), the former light heavyweight champion the world and one of the most dangerous punchers in recent years, will return against fast-rising knockout artist and Olympic Silver medalist Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev (6-0, 5 KOs) in a 178-pound catchweight battle scheduled for 12 rounds. The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 30 and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories, including the U.S., Russia and Uzbekistan.

Information regarding the venue, which is scheduled to be in Russia, will be announced shortly.

“After just six professional fights, Bekt is making an enormous leap to jump two divisions and fight a former unified world champion on his own home turf in Russia,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This is the very definition of ‘daring to be great,’ and we have all the confidence in the world that ‘The Bully’ will take out Kovalev and become a world champion in quick fashion.”

Kovalev is a three-time light heavyweight champion who captured his first world title in 2013 when he stopped Nathan Cleverly in Wales. Kovalev then traveled to Atlantic City to meet future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins to unify the WBO, WBA and IBF titles with a lopsided unanimous decision victory in 2014. As unified champion, “Krusher” successfully defended his titles twice against Jean Pascal and once against Isaac Chilemba. Despite setbacks against Andre “S.O.G.” Ward and Eleider Alvarez, the 37-year-old Russian managed to avenge a loss to Alvarez and score a technical knockout victory against undefeated contender Anthony Yarde. Kovalev will return after his historic 2019 battle against Canelo Alvarez.

“I am glad that after a long break I am starting my journey back to the title of world champion,” said Sergey Kovalev. “The fact that this fight is scheduled to be in Russia gives me even more motivation and strength. I want to please my fellow countrymen again with my boxing and a beautiful victory.”

“We’re happy to be back after this unexpectedly long pandemic layoff and so grateful to DAZN for the opportunity,” said Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events. “I’m looking forward to once again seeing Sergey light up when he fights in front of his countrymen as they always seem to bring out the best in him.”

Melikuziev is a 24-year-old puncher with an impressive amateur resume, having captured silver medals at the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympics, among other accolades. The native of Shoimbek, Uzbekistan signed with Golden Boy in 2019 and made it very clear that he wanted to move up the rankings as quickly as possible. He kept his promise by scoring four impressive wins in 2019 and two additional knockout wins in 2020. Melikuziev feels he is more than ready for this challenge.

“Sergey Kovalev is one of the biggest boxing stars of the last decade,” said Bektemir Melikuziev. “This is exactly the type of opportunity I have wanted since turning professional and I will be very well prepared for victory on January 30!”

Kovalev vs. Melikuziev is a 12-round catchweight battle presented by Golden Boy, Main Events, Krusher Promotionsand World of Boxing. The fight will take place Saturday, Jan. 30 will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories, including the U.S., Russia and Uzbekistan.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #KovalevMelikuziev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link:https://bit.ly/KovalevMelikuziev into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – Sullivan Barrera thought that right now he would be entertaining offers for another title shot.  The former Cuban amateur standout has a lot of nice wins on his resume with a world championship the only thing missing.

Barrera was scheduled to face former champion Sergey Kovalev at a 180 pound catchweight in a DAZN streamed main event on April 25th but the coronavirus pandemic wiped out those plans as it forced the cancellation of boxing events throughout the globe.

According to Barrera, beating Kovalev was the first step in a two fight plan.  First conquer the former champion then get a crack at another title. After hoisting a belt around his waist, he would be content to ride off into the sunset and focus his time and energy on his family.

“All of my focus was on Kovalev.  After the surgery, I feel like a reborn fighter and I wanted to prove it to the world with a great performance against Kovalev.  I know that win could have led me to a fight against one of the 175 pound champions,” Barrera stated.

What is troubling to Barrera is that he hasn’t heard a word regarding the rescheduling of the fight.  With boxing returning to the airwaves in the United States next week and plans for a DAZN fight card on July 4th, Barrera is perplexed at why he hasn’t heard anything about the Kovalev fight and wonders if there are other issues at hand.

“I am still training, staying in shape for when my manager calls me and says that the fight is back on. So far we don’t hear anything.  What is the problem?  I just hope Kovalev isn’t back on the vodka.  We all know what liquor does to him and I hope that isn’t the reason why our fight isn’t rescheduled.  I really want this fight. I put everything into it. I even agreed to give him an extra 5 pounds so he doesn’t have to train too hard.  What is the problem now, Kovalev?” Barrera stated.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Canelo Alvarez is fighting for history. At least, he was, pre-pandemic, last November in his light-heavyweight stoppage of Sergey Kovalev. But history, like profit, has been suspended for who-knows-how-long because of COVID-19.

Alvarez is lucky. He was a wealthy man before the virus appeared and spread its deadly appendages like a weapon of mass destruction. Over just three fights in his rich DAZN deal, he earned $97.5 million, more than enough to pay for a lifetime of bills and a few Ferraris.

Canelo doesn’t have to fight, unlike most in the prize-fighting profession who are praying for some sort of paycheck in studio shows that figure to begin next month. But if money isn’t a motivation anymore, Canelo’s immense pride is. That’s why the reigning middleweight champion talked – and talked — about history before an 11^th-round knockout of Kovalev Nov. 2 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand in his first and only fight at 175 pounds.

For Alvarez, history isn’t complicated. It’s simple. Singular. Julio Cesar Chavez is the defining face of Mexico’s fabled boxing history. He was when Canelo was born in 1990. He has been ever since.

In winning a title in a fourth weight class, Canelo had begun his monumental pursuit of supplanting Chavez. His run at history was underway. Now, a pandemic-altered landscape includes a potential dilemma for Canelo and DAZN.

History or profit?

Money or legacy?

Canelo’s claim on legacy is hard to make, much less sustain, when he’s not fighting. Inactivity opens the way to a skepticism that’s hard to counter. Think of LeBron James in his great debate over who’s The GOAT: James or Jordan?  James’ only argument is to play, just play. Yet just as the pandemic shuts down the NBA, the ESPN documentary, The Last Dance, reminds us just how good Michael Jordan was. Without another season and another title run, James has no way to further his claim on being basketball’s best ever.

James has to play.

Canelo has to fight.

Until then, it’s hard to argue with legendary trainer Nacho Beristain, who questions whether Canelo will be remembered as Mexico’s best ever.

“I think it is going to be a little difficult for him to end up being one of the best fighters to come out of Mexico,’’ Beristain told El Boxcast. “He is a good fighter, no doubt about that. I particularly feel how he boxes is attractive. But for him to be the best pound-for-pound, he’s not and he’s not going to be.

“I think they are intelligently evading some middleweight fighters who may harm him and are taking care of his career because they are making a lot of money. To a certain extent he is good, but I think he is not the best.”

The money is a staggering complication, the proverbial devil in the looming dilemma.

It’s easy to say that making history is the goal when you’re making $32.5 million-a-fight. That has been Canelo’s guarantee for each fight in the landmark, $365-million contract he signed with DAZN in 2018. He beat Rocky Fielding, Danny Jacobs and Kovalev in the first three bouts of an 11-fight deal. They were solid victories, but forgettable on a historical scale. Canelo, a former junior-middleweight champion, won a fringe 168-pound title against Fielding, retained his middleweight supremacy against Jacobs and won a fourth division title against a fading fighter, yet a known name in Kovalev.

Short-term, it did not answer questions still lingering in the wake of two fights with Gennadiy Golovkin. There was a draw and then a narrow scorecard victory for Canelo, who won a majority decision in the rematch. History and DAZN demand something definitive. But the world is operating on a different a timetable these days. Tick-tock, we’re all on the pandemic clock. There was talk about a third GGG-Canelo fight in September. Then, there was talk of interim bouts — Canelo-versus-Billy Joe Saunders and GGG-versus-Kamil Szeremeta before the final leg in a trilogy.

“We realistically want two fights this year,” Canelo trainer Eddy Reynoso told Box Azteca. “We couldn’t fight in May, so we are looking at September and December. We’re talking about [opponents] like Billy Joe Saunders.

“There’s also Caleb Plant and the WBC world titleholder at 168 pounds [David Benavidez]. There are several [options] … Golovkin could be the fight for December. His people have already said that he doesn’t want to fight Canelo until after the [Kamil Szeremeta] fight.”

When fights were cancelled, DAZN lost subscribers. Can the streaming network even afford to pay Canelo his minimum anymore? Will former subscribers renew after months of lost wages? Would Canelo be willing to make less money while he tries to make history?

Only the virus knows.

MIAMI, FLA – Saturday night was supposed to be make or break for Sullivan Barrera.  The former world title challenger was supposed to face Sergey Kovalev on April 25th in a DAZN streamed main event that would have been contested at a catchweight of 180 pounds. 

Of course the coronavirus halted all professional sports in the United States from the middle of March through at least the end of April. Despite the uncertainty of when the fight will take place, the 38-year-old light heavyweight continues to train in hopes that the fight is rescheduled for a summer date. 

“This fight means everything to me. I have fought the best in the division but this is the biggest fight for me.  Bigger than Andre Ward, or (Dmitry) Bivol or Joe Smith.  This is a fight that should have happened a long time ago but never happened,” Barrera explained.

Barrera’s wife recently gave birth to Sullivan Jr. which has given his father extra motivation.  The former Cuban amateur standout knows he is in the latter stages of his career and wants to end on a high note.

“It is do or die for me.  This is a fight I have to win and I know I will win.  I hope Kovalev is still training so we can get this rescheduled for as soon as possible,” Barrera stated.

Trainer Derik Santos has been very impressed with the work Barrera has put in despite not having a definite fight date.

“Sully is very focused. He is a professional.  He was having a great camp and we are keeping him in sharp and in great shape.  This will be the best version of Sullivan that the fans have seen.  We have the perfect game plan to defeat the Krusher,” Santos stated. 

INDIO, Calif. (March 17, 2020) – In compliance with Riverside County’s ordinance banning large public gatherings due to concerns regarding COVID-19, the April 25 Kovalev vs. Barrera card at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has been cancelled.

“Whether it’s in Riverside County or Los Angeles County, it is clear that we must take every precaution to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “We lament the hardship this has caused for our fighters, partners, employees and state officials, and we look forward to providing better news in the coming weeks.”

“The health of our guests and Golden Boy’s athletes is our top priority,” Paul Ryan, General Manager of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. “This week we’ve seen professional sports leagues err on the side of caution, from the NBA and college basketball to the PGA and Major League Baseball, and we’re doing the same. It’s the right thing to do, and we look forward to having another stellar Golden Boy card here in the future.”

A new date for Golden Boy Boxing at Fantasy Springs will be announced as soon as is reasonably possible.

Former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev will take on Sullivan Barrera on April 25th at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California. The bout will headline a massive cards that will also feature four world title bouts, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Kovalev wrote on social media on Wednesday that the fight had been signed and later said, “I am happy to get back in the ring and to be on my way back to world championship bouts. Barrera is a Cuban fighter and, even though I never faced any Cuban fighters as a professional, back in amateur days it was always Russian boxers competing with Cuban boxers, so I’m looking forward to remembering my amateur boxing. I’m very glad to be back and to bring my boxing to my fans on April 25.”

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s promoter and Barrera’s former promoter, who is working with Golden Boy on the fight, added, “Because Sullivan Barrera spent most of his professional career with Main Events, a fight between Kovalev and Barrera is something that we naturally anticipated would happen for a very long time. And so here we are! This is a really solid fight between two action fighters who have never turned down a challenge.

“This will be the most important fight of my career because I have always pursued a fight with Sergey Kovalev,” Barrera said. “I know that he has to win this fight in order to continue with his career, but the case is the same with me. It is very important to win this fight, which for me would be like becoming a world champion. That’s what it means for me to finally face Kovalev. I also want to thank Golden Boy for believing in me and my team, and for giving us the opportunity that we have always wanted, which is to fight Kovalev.”

Beside the main event, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya said he was excited by the depth of the card.

“For this huge event, we’ll have fighters from four different continents battling it out for world titles from all four sanctioning bodies,” De La Hoya said. “Fans of professional boxing will be treated to a banquet of big fights headlined by Sergey Kovalev versus Sullivan Barrera, along with the returns of world champions such as Patrick Teixeira, Rene and Felix Alvarado, and Chayaphon Moonsri (also known as Wanheng Menayothin).”

In the co-feature, Teixeira (31-1, 22 KOs), 29, a southpaw from Brazil, will make the first defense of his junior middleweight world title against mandatory challenger Brian Castano (16-0-1, 12 KOs), 30, of Argentina.

“I am very happy and excited to defend my world title for the very first time,” said Teixeira, who recently signed a contract extension with Golden Boy. “I worked very hard to become a world champion, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me. I know that Castano, as my mandatory challenger, is tough and experienced, but my team and I are more than ready to go to war and deliver a great performance.”

Junior lightweight world titlist Rene Alvarado (32-8, 21 KOs), 31, of Nicaragua, and twin brother and junior flyweight world titlist Felix Alvarado (35-2, 30 KOs) will defend their titles on the same card. Rene Alvarado knocked out Andrew Cancio in the seventh round in November to win a 130-pound title and will make his first defense against Roger Gutierrez (24-3-1, 20 KOs), 24, of Venezuela, who has won five fights in a row.

Felix Alvarado, who signed with Golden Boy last month, will make the second defense of his 108-pound world title against former strawweight titlist DeeJay Kriel (16-1-1, 8 KOs), 24, of South Africa. Kriel won his strawweight belt in February 2018 by 12th-round knockout of Carlos Licona but never defended, instead vacating in order to move up in weight.

Menayothin (54-0, 18 KOs), 34, of Thailand, who boasts the longest active unbeaten streak in boxing, will defend his strawweight world title for the 13th time when he squares off with Marco John Rementizo (12-3, 9 KOs), 20, of the Philippines. Menayothin signed with Golden Boy late last year and the fight will be his first outside of Thailand.

Also on the card:

• Former junior lightweight world titlist Alberto Machado (22-2, 18 KOs), 29, of Puerto Rico, will face fellow southpaw Cristian Baez (18-1, 17 KOs), 28, of Venezuela, in a 10-round lightweight fight. Machado is seeking his second win in a row since moving up in weight after losing his title by knockout to Cancio and then getting knocked out again in the immediate rematch last June.

• Junior featherweight Diego De La Hoya (22-1, 10 KOs), 25, of Mexico, a first cousin of Oscar De La Hoya, will face Manuel “Tino” Avila (23-2-1, 8 KOs), 27, of Fairfield, California, in a 10-rounder.

• Middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. (15-3, 9 KOs), 29, of Pomona, California, the son of former three-division world champion and 2020 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Shane Mosley Sr., will have his first fight since signing with Golden Boy last month. He will face Abraham Cordero (13-5-2, 7 KOs), 25, of Mexico, in an eight-rounder.

• Junior featherweight Hector Valdez (12-0, 8 KOs), 24, of Dallas, will face an opponent to be determined in an eight-round bout.

The trial for former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev has been postponed, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2019): In order to comply with the World Boxing Organization’s (“WBO”) prohibition against its champions holding titles from other sanctioning organizations in multiple weight classes, four-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) and the WBO have reached an agreement for Canelo to vacate the WBO’s Light Heavyweight World Title. Canelo won the WBO title by defeating
Sergey Kovalev via 11th-round knockout on Nov. 2, 2019. Canelo will maintain his status and privileges as a WBO Super Champion, including the privilege to be designated mandatory challenger to the WBO titleholder in any division.

Canelo said, “I know that my accomplishments in the ring have brought pride to my fans and my country. I have long enjoyed my relationship with the WBO and appreciate all they do to preserve and enhance the sport of boxing. This agreement allows the WBO to have its light heavyweight title contested regularly and allows me to pursue bouts against the best opponents, regardless of weight class.”

Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel ,president of the WBO, said, “Canelo has already accomplished much in boxing, and is still a young man. When his career is done, he will be regarded as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring, and one of Mexico’s best fighters ever. We look forward to his future fights against rivals at the top of the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and other divisions.”

“We completely support the decision made by Canelo Alvarez and the WBO,” said Oscar De La Hoya,Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Canelo made history by stopping Sergey Kovalev in impressive fashion to become a four-division world champion. Not only did he show that he is a real threat at 175 pounds, but he also demonstrated that he is fully capable of moving across several divisions to look for the most exciting fights for the fans. At the same time, we look forward to continue promoting our other WBO champions such as Patrick Teixeira and Franchon Crews-Dezurn.”

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 14, 2019): Fresh off his impressive victory on the undercard of Canelo vs. Kovalev, super middleweight prospect Bektemir Melikuziev (3-0, 3 KOs) has signed a co-promotional agreement with Golden Boy and World of Boxing. Details for his next fight will be announced shortly.

Melikuziev is a 23-year-old puncher with an impressive amateur resume, having captured silver medals at the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympics, among other accolades. The native of Shoimbek, Uzbekistan made his professional debut in June of this year, and he has remained undefeated in three fights that he has won by knockout. With his impressive background, Melikuziev plans to make a quick rise up the super middleweight rankings, and he is proud to do so with Golden Boy and World of Boxing.

“I am looking forward to a long and successful career working together with World of Boxing and Golden Boy,” said Melikuziev. “It’s a pleasure for me to have such a professional team! I have watched many of these great fights on TV and dreamt of one day becoming someone like the boxers that fight in the U.S. Now I have this chance, and I will take full advantage of this opportunity! Don’t blink, every one of my fights will be a performance not to miss!”

“Weare very excited to be working with World of Boxing to promote Bektemir Melikuziev,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This man is an absolute beast. He’s strong, tough and very quick with his hands and feet, especially for his weight class. We look forward to moving him fairly quickly up the rankings as he puts everybody on notice at 168 pounds.”

Said Andrei Ryabinskiy, head of World of Boxing, “Bektemir is still young, but already a very experienced boxer that has proven his talent in the amateurs. I am confident that working together with Oscar De La Hoya, who has himself stepped into the highest pro ranks from the Olympic pedestal, we will be able to push Melikuziev’s career all the way to the top!”

“Bek is a real ‘Bully’ in the ring, but a very nice and happy person outside of the ring,” said Vadim Kornilov, Manager of Melikuziev. “I look forward to working with World of Boxing and Golden Boy to make Bek into the future star that he is already becoming!”

About Golden Boy
Los Angeles-based Golden Boy was established in 2002 by Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy is a media and entertainment brand committed to making fighting entertainment more accessible and affordable. The company’s in-house production team develops creative original programming for ESPN, RingTV.com and international channels across the globe. The company holds the exclusive rights to top boxers and has promoted some of the biggest and highest grossing events in the history of the sport. Now, Golden Boy is one of the most successful boxing entertainment companies in the world and shapes the future of boxing for fighters and fans alike through its 2019 partnership with streaming platform, DAZN.

By Bart Barry-

Saturday at MGM Grand in a light heavyweight title fight
broadcasted by DAZN, Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez discombobulated Russian
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev in the 11th round of a dull match staged sometime Sunday
morning.  It was an exclamation mark on
the end of a sentence banal as this!

Something artificial pervaded the spectacle
entire.  Nothing untoward, quite.  Nothing worth burning digital bridges
about.  But a weird sensation those who
made the Vegas trip deserved much more than they got for being much more
authentic than what they witnessed. 

Krusher, the psychopath-cum-kitten, fought like a
man worried he might offend his host, his benefactor, his employer.  That would be Canelo.  And Canelo put up with oh so much more from
his new employer, DAZN, than our beloved sport’s flagship man should.

Since when does the a-side glove-up an hour before
he walks?  Canelo ate it in a way Money
May would not have, and that is no compliment. 
To see Canelo’s face as a monitor showed him Krusher enjoying a prefight
siesta about 10 minutes after their opening bell should have sounded was to see
a professional processing how many promises his promoter made to get his
promoter paid so much for delivering him as a fighter.  What the hell else did that flake pledge in
my name?  Time will tell, Cinnamon, for
only time knows.

The match hewed suspicious close to its script.  But allay those suspicions.  No one had to be anything at all other than
exactly himself to end the match exactly when it did exactly as it did.  Referee Russell Mora’s spastic no-count was a
smidgen less than hoped, perhaps, but everyone else played his part perfectly,
right down to a wonderful scorekeeper so nervous his maths might fail him at the
decisive point he gave Canelo the first two rounds at the prefight buffet,
figuring Kovalev’s struggles with weight would bring a slow start and since
nothing much happens in the opening six minutes anyway if he launched his card at
20-18 he could score the rest straight and safely submit a tidy tally.

How about that spot in the middle rounds when
Krusher got himself tangled in a Canelo headlock and began tapping his
employer’s back pleadingly?  It was so
sweet and gentle and tender.  Near an
antonym for the word “fight” as anyone’s done with 10-ounce gloves in many a
moon.  An historic touch on an historic
night.

Not since Julio Cesar Chavez has a Mexican won a
title at 175 pounds, apparently, or else I misinterpreted some of DAZN’s 90
minutes of nonsequitur-filled filler, though not the part where B-Hop talked
nonsensically about himself.  I recall
thinking it odd they’d put one of the promoters beside the broadcasters so
close to the ringwalk.

Hah! 
Yup.  I’m an idiot.  It wasn’t till after the Metta World Peace
interview I realized some programming something was so wrong there was no
choice but to fold: I clicked the Roku to Amazon Prime, started a new episode
of “Jack Ryan” and fell gently asleep about the same moment Canelo reclined
into his own prefight torpor, symmetrically enough.

Here’s what happened when I awoke seven hours
later (and I impart this for your future reference, friends, as goodfolk who might
utilize DAZN’s replay): No sooner did I find the main-event selection on DAZN
than I began some maths of my own, noticing the opening bell was fewer than 48
minutes from the video’s end, instantly rendering all of the match’s scoring
drama an irrelevance.  Which made me
impatient.

Imagine, then, enduring those first two rounds en
route to a knockout.  Imagine listening
to witling chatter about Kovalev’s establishing his pittypat jab while knowing
someone would be stopped by real punches sometime before the closing bell.  Imagine listening to that tedious crew argue
with itself about the definition of a close round.  Imagine watching Kovalev’s fears about his
conditioning mount in the middle rounds while knowing he needn’t go all
12. 

By the end of round 7 here was my greatest
suspense as a DAZN subscriber: Should I continue to skip forward 30 seconds at
a time, at the risk of being bored unto longterm acrimony towards the eventual
winner, or should I pointer-skip ahead full minutes, at the risk of ruining the
grand finale? 

I fearlessly skipped forward and landed between
rounds 10 and 11.  Romance favors the
bold. 

Here’s where I should write a white lie about regretting
my course, something like: Great as the ending was, how much better would it
have been had I let the drama build properly through those 40 minutes!  Nah. 
The ending redeemed the match regardless of one’s investment in it; I
felt my 17 minutes well-spent the same way others felt their 117 minutes
well-spent. 

What I like best about Canelo is his treating this
era as it deserves.  After getting
stripped naked by a 150-pound Floyd Mayweather in 2013, four years later Canelo
knew after 12 rounds with GGG, world’s most-feared fighter, there was nothing
historic about today’s middleweight division. 
So he fought 36 rounds with its two best men, went 2-0-1, signed an
obscene contract, then decided to cherrypick from an equally weak light
heavyweight division.

Canelo can fight any man he wishes at any catchweight
he wishes, and no one will say no to him for the next few years because DAZN is
an infinity-plus-one financier.  Too, if
he fights the cruiserweight winner of WBSS next year, none of us is going to
doubt he could beat Callum Smith at super middleweight – even if he probably
couldn’t.

In flashfreezing Kovalev to win a light
heavyweight belt Canelo made history the way Manny Pacquiao did against Antonio
Margarito.  Canelo could be the next
Pacquiao, in fact, if only he’d had a Barrera, a Morales and a Marquez.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Canelo Alvarez won the WBO Light Heavyweight title with a 11th round knockout over Sergey Kovalev at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

It was a tactical fight with Kovalev throwing nothing but jabs, while Canelo was looking to counter hard shots. Kovalev was effective, especially early with that strategy as he was able to keep Canelo at bay.

Canelo seemed to get a little closer in the middle rounds with his counter shots. Kovalev rebounded nicely as he started throwing some power shots.

In round 11, Alvarez landed a left to the chin that stunned Kovalev badly. That was followed up by a crushing right that slumped Kovalev between the bottom and 2nd ropes, and referee Russell Mora stopped the fight immediately at 2;15.

Alvarez, who won a title in his 4th weight division, checked in at 174 1/2 lbs, and the Guadalajara, MEX native is now 53-1-2 with 36 knockouts. Kovalev, 175 lbs of Russia is 34-4-1.

Ryan Garcia made an emphatic statement as he stopped Romero Duno in the 1st round of their scheduled 12-round lightweight bout.

Garcia landed a big right that was followed up by a left that sent Duno on his pants, and the fight was stopped at 1:38.

Garcia, 135 lbs of Victorville, CA is 19-0 with 16 knockouts. Duno, 135 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is 21-2.

Seniesa Estrada defeated Marlen Esparza via technical decision after round nine in a battle of undefeated flyweights to win the WBA Interim Flyweight title.

In round five, the two clashed head very hard and a deep cut opened up on the forehead of Esparza. Estrada was more active and slowly beat down Esparza. With the cut deepening, Estrada could not continue after the 9th round.

Estrada, 110.5 lbs of East Los Angeles won by scores of 90-81, 89-82 and 88-83 to raise her mark to 18-0. Esparza, 111 lbs of Houston, Texas is 7-1.

Blair Cobbs remained undefeated with a stoppage after round six over Carlos Ortiz in a welterweight fight

In round one, Ortiz caught Cobbs with left to the head that forced the glove of Cobbs to hit the canvas for a knockdown.

In round six, Cobbs dropped Ortiz hard with a hard overhand left. Cobbs landed a nice body combination in the round and the could have been the stoppage flurry as Ortiz quit in the corner after the round citing pain in his rib area.

Cobbs, 147 lbs of Las Vegas is 13-0-1 with nine knockouts. Cobbs, 146 lbs of Mexico is 11-5.

The son of the legend, Evan Holyfield needed just 16 seconds to stop Nick Winstead in Holyfield’s pro debut in a scheduled four-round middleweight fight.

Holyfield, 154 lbs of Atlanta is 1-0 with one knockout. Winstead, 156 lbs of Albita Springs, LA is 0-2.

Bakhram Murtazaliev won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jorge Fortea in a junior middleweight elimination bout.

In round four, Murtazaliev had swelling around his left eye. That seemed to wake him as he stated to up his punch rate and came home with the victory by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110.

Murtazaliev, 154 lbs of Grozny, RUS is 17-0. Forte, 153.5 lbs of Sueca, SPA is 20-2-1.

Tristan Kalkreuth won a four-round unanimous decision over Twon Smith in a cruiserweight bout.

Kalkreuth, 188 lbs of Arlington, TX won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 to got to 3-0. Smith, 188.5 lbs of Oklahoma City is 3-4.

Meirim Nursaltanov won a 10-round unanimous decision over Cristian Olivas in a middleweight bout.

Nursaltanov, 160 lbs of Merki, KAZ won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 13-0. Olivas, 160 lbs of Mexicali. MC is 16-6.

Las Vegas, NV: Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the biggest fight of the year is finally happening: Three-Time Light Heavyweight World Champion and current WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) will defend his title against WBC Franchise, WBA, Lineal, Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion and WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs). These two warriors will square off in front of a packed house at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and live on DAZN for millions of viewers. Below is the scouting report for this explosive match-up:

 According Main Events’ matchmaker, Jolene Mizzone, “This is a true throwback fight! I wish more people in this business would put the politics aside and fight each other. Fighters make fights! Kudos to both Kovalev and Canelo!”Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.   Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254, $854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez, www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

By Norm Frauenheim-

LAS VEGAS — The road team does win sometimes. Proof of that happened Wednesday night when the Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros, winning a World Series in which only the road team won.

In more than a century of baseball, that’s never happened. In the 116^{th-version of the modern Series, it finally did. It was hard — make that impossible — not to} wonder whether Sergey Kovalev has any kind of chance against Canelo Alvarez Saturday night (DAZN) at the MGM Grand.

If anybody ever represented a road team, it’s Kovalev, who is the underdog in a bid to stop Canelo from making his own kind of history.

He’s moving up the scale, from middleweight to light-heavyweight, in his pursuit of a fourth division. A victory over Kovalev would put Canelo among the elite in Mexico storied boxing history.

It’s no coincidence that a chance at Mexican history would be played out in front of a Mexican crowd. It’s Canelo’s town. It’ll be his crowd, too. It’s hard to find an oddsmaker, or a fan, or a pundit who doesn’t think it’s his fight, too.

By now, there are familiar theories as to why.

Theory #1: Kovalev is vulnerable to body punches, Canelo’s best punch.

Theory #2: Canelo, 29, is younger and continue to improve. Age has begun to erode the 36-year-old Kovalev’s skill set.

Theory #3: Kovalev has never been the same since Andre Ward stopped him with succession of body punches in their 2017 rematch. Kovalev says the punches were low blows. Maybe, they were. But the damage to the Russian’s career looks to be irreversible.

Apply one theory or all three, and it looks as though  it’s not a matter of if, just when, Canelo adds a fourth division belt to the other three he already has in his personal history.

Throughout this week in Vegas, however, there were subtle signs that it might not be Canelo in blowout. There’s evident personal chemistry between Kovalev and his new trainer, Buddy McGirt, who has scaled back Kovalev’s training. There’s less sparring and more of an emphasis on restoring fundamental technique, especially the jab, Kovalev’s signature punch.

“I’ve told Sergey: ‘You’re an older person now which means you have to be a smarter person,’ ‘’ McGirt said.

Best guess is that smarts, the so-called ring IQ, will prove to be the decisive factor. Canelo appears to have an edge, but it’s to say how much smarter he will be throughout the scheduled 12 rounds. His intelligence, however, has been evident over the last few years. At each opening bell, he adds a new element to his skill set.

There more, a lot more, to what he can do, his trainer Eddy Reynoso says.

“People haven’t seen it all,’’ Reynoso said.

Much of his intelligence is rooted in reasonable caution. Don’t expect him to race at a bigger man with a bigger punch.

“It will be complicated, especially in the early rounds,’’ Canelo said.

It also might be complicated in the later rounds, especially if Kovalev hasn’t left the best of himself in the gym.

From this corner, Kovalev-Canelo figures to go to the scorecards. It’ll be close, but it looks as if Canelo is just a little bit smarter and has more in his ever-evolving skillset.

In this week, the real history belongs to the Nationals and Astros.

Pick: Canelo wins a close, yet unanimous decision. 

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2019): The undercard of the Canelo vs. Kovalev card hosted a press conference featuring Ryan Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs), “Ruthless” Romero Duno (21-1, 16 KOs), Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (17-0, 7 KOs), Marlen Esparza (7-0, 1 KO), Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (12-0-1, 8 KOs), and Carlos Ortiz (11-4, 11 KOs). The event will take place Saturday Nov. 2, 2019 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s press conference:

Ryan Garcia, Lightweight Contender:

“This fight is a big fight, a big moment, there’s a lot of hype around it. A lot of things have been said about me not taking the fight in September but look, I’m taking it now. It’s a big moment on a big stage, and it had to happen here. You have two hungry fighters and Romero, he’s a big puncher and he’s going to come and try to knock me out. It’s a very dangerous fight. I took a younger fighter who’s up and coming so he’s hungry. Not some old guy, I took a young, hungry, hard-hitting fighter. I want to prove everybody wrong and I probably won’t get the respect end of the day but it’s okay as long as I put on the best show that I can.”

“I just got a lot of haters and they want to see me lose, even if I knock him out and I put on a beautiful boxing performance, they’re not going to respect me but I’m okay with that. I’m okay with just being confident in myself. I have a lot of respect for Romero Duno. Sometimes it confuses me when he wears t-shirts that ‘Ryan Garcia is running,’ so I’m a little confused, but I respect him.”

“I feel like my skills are better. I just feel like I’m going to win fairly easy. I don’t see it going all ten rounds.”

KO? “Ya.”

Romero Duno, NABO Lightweight Champion:

“I would like to thank Golden Boy Promotions for giving me a chance to fight this event, a very big event for me. I would like to thank Ryan Garcia for accepting the match. I wanted to give the fans what they want. They say they want me to fight King Ryan. I was ready [in September], I was always ready. I was born ready.”

“I didn’t imagine that I could be here right now, fighting on a big card like this one. It’s a very big opportunity for me to show the world that not only Manny Pacquiao can make history in boxing in the Philippines. There’s a lot of Filipino fighters that can do that.”

Seniesa Estrada, WBC Silver Light Flyweight Champion:

“I’ve been dealing with a lot of talk from Marlen the last two years, mostly on social media of course, but I do my talking in the ring. Saturday night, she’s going to have a lot to deal with. I love that she’s underestimating me and thinks she’s gonna walk right through me. Saturday night, she’s in for a big surprise.”

“You’re a bad rep to women’s boxing period, you start beef with everybody. There’s little girls watching you too, and you disrespect me all the time. She has a bad ego, bad attitude, she’s disrespectful, she’s just a nasty person with a nasty attitude. Marlen Esparza is delusional.”

“I’m going to be the bully Saturday night, that’s for sure.”

Marlen Esparza, NABO Flyweight Champion:

“I just want to say that I’m extremely happy to be here. It’s such a huge platform for women’s boxing. I’m looking forward to settling this once and for all. There’s been so much said, so much done. Seniesa decided to shove me and disrespect me and disrespect women’s boxing. There’s little girls watching all over the world and I want to show them how we should represent women’s boxing. The entire situation is disrespectful. There’s a time to make contact and that’s on Saturday night. You need to hold yourself in a professional manner.”

“I’m excited to put on a show and I’m excited for the three-minute rounds – it’s huge for us in women’s boxing. I’m excited to do this not just for me but for all the Latinas everywhere.”

“She’s a compulsive liar. She tries to play victim all the time. You’re not the victim here, and then you want to shove me? Which are you, are you the victim or the bully? You need to pick a side.”

Blair Cobbs, Junior NABF Welterweight Champion:

“I’m going out there to impress and show the world – millions around the world – what Blair ‘The Flair’ is all about baby. Woo!”

“I am the most exciting man in boxing today, because it doesn’t matter who you put me in there with – you’re going to see an exciting fight. Knockouts, drag-out wars, you’re going to see blood, action, tears. You’re going to see somebody that’s going to hate me, and the people that hate me are going to rise up and give a great applause.”

Carlos Ortiz, Welterweight Contender:

“I’m very grateful to be participating on such a card with great boxers. There’s a reason why we’re here and I look forward to giving a great fight.”

Eric Gomez, President of Golden Boy:

“As in any big event, you have the undercard and we have all these rising stars that are going to contribute in making this a special event on Saturday night. In the co-feature, Ryan Garcia wants to prove that he can be the next big star in boxing but he’s facing a tough customer in Romero Duno – who knows that with a victory, he’s right in line to challenge for a world title. And, we have two girls who are undefeated and are going to take their fight off of social media and into the ring.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events:

“A spot on the undercard is where it starts. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked through our archive and looked at a particular fight and been astonished at who was fighting underneath.”

Bernard Hopkins, Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Business Partner:

“To my left, the future stars, this is your moment. Even though you’re not the headliner of the card, you have the chance to steal the show. You have the chance to be your own main event and be successful. To my right, the same goes to you – especially Blair and everybody that’s putting themselves into a position to one day be a main event. I love this sport, I love boxing, and when you get an undercard that has substance and meaning, it makes me feel even more grateful that I’ve left my DNA heavy in the history of boxing. Pay attention to the undercard very closely because one day soon, you’ll be rooting for them and you’ll be covering them.”

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title
presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. Garcia vs. Duno is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Silver & NABO Lightweight Titles presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,”
Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254,
$854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2019): Following today’s final press conference, Canelo vs. Kovalev undercard fighters staged an open workout for fans at the MGM Resort and Casino. Those participating included Ryan “Kingry” Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs), “Ruthless” Romero Duno (21-1, 16 KOs), Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (17-0, 7 KOs), Marlen Esparza (7-0, 1 KO) and Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (12-0-1, 8 KOs). Canelo vs. Kovalev will take place Nov. 2, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live excusively on DAZN.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s workout:

Ryan Garcia, Lightweight Contender:

“I’m feeling good. I’m feeling on weight. I’m feeling speed, power, everything feels good. I don’t see this fight going the distance. My main focus is getting the win, whatever happens.”

“He’s going to bring what he has and that’s power. He’s going to come forward, he’s not going to quit, and you’ll see what I do.”

Romero Duno, NABO Lightweight Champion:

“I feel excited for this fight and to be here in Vegas.”

Seniesa “Estrada, WBC Silver Light Flyweight Champion:

“I just know I have a lot of different ways to win. I can adjust to any type of style. Marlen has the same style every fight, so I’m going to go in there and show people all that I can do, different things. I know I trained hard for this fight. I had a two-and-a-half-month training camp, I sparred 110 rounds. I’m prepared mentally and physically, which you have to be when you’re on such a big stage. I’m just mentally prepared.”

“I’m kind of used to Marlen’s trash talk because it’s been happening for the past few years. She does a lot of talking. I don’t talk. She blames me for it, but it’s not me. She’s had beef with many other girls, it’s not just myself. I’m used to it, I just have to focus on what I have to do to win the fight. I’m not sure how it started. She starts beef with a lot of people, it’s not just me, but she started the beef, and we’re going to end it on Saturday.”

“I’m ready. Just some eating to make sure I stay strong and stay ready. Finish up the last couple days of training.”

Marlen Esparza, NABO Flyweight Champion:

Were you angry or surprised she shoved you yesterday? “I think it was a little of both. I didn’t think she had it in her, I think she’s super weak. I think what really got me more angry was this is the first time that women’s boxing is being showcased on such a big platform, I don’t think it was very respectful to the sport. Like, hold it together. I want to push you too, I want to fight you too, but there’s a time and a place on Saturday night. It really pissed me off, and I’m going to save it all for Saturday and I hope she does the same. When you’re on a stage like that, it’s all work so for me, regardless of how I feel, I’m still going to concentrate on what I have to do. If I don’t like you in in normal life, I wouldn’t be standing next to you right now, but it’s work. You should respect the sport and respect that there are little girls watching you. It was insulting and disrespectful, but I can let all that out in the ring.”

Why is this fight so meaningful for women’s boxing? “There are other fighters and a few other big fights that have done the same thing, but we are the first ones doing three-minute rounds. That’s something we really fought for, and I feel like that’s something we needed do to show people what the three-minute round can do for women’s boxing. One, if we want equal pay, we need to do equal work. Secondly, there are a lot of fights that would go completely different if they were two-minute rounds. If you were to take all the men’s bouts, some of the most legendary fights, if it was two-minutes, most of the time, those outcomes wouldn’t be the same. We are trying to represent ourselves as best as possible and I think the real winner will be in a three-minute round.”

How are you feeling? “It’s just the waiting game. Staying focused and realizing that the job’s not done yet. I feel like I’ve been waiting almost my entire career for this fight. So, I’m just anxious but I’m excited. Thank you to everyone for their support. If this is your first time tuning in on a women’s bout, I hope you like it. It’s going to be good.”

Blair Cobbs, Junior NABF Welterweight Champion:

“I got everything that it takes, to steal the show and show the world that Blair ‘The Flair’ is the best. My confidence is instilled in me since day one when I was born. I was born for this moment.”

“I pay homage to all the WWE fans and people that love Ric Flair. Ric Flair is an incredible entertainer and he is one of the guys that I look up to as far as entertainment is concerned. So, when I say ‘Woo!’ that’s where it comes from.”

“I look up to Blair ‘The Flair.’ I look at the video tapes, and I think, ‘Man that guy is really good.’ I wake up in the morning and I think, ‘Wow, that boy is sexy.’ And when I hit somebody, that boy goes down, and I’m like, ‘Wow. I’m shocked.’ If anyone is a fan of Blair ‘The Flair,’ it’s definitely Blair Cobbs, he’s definitely a fan of Blair ‘The Flair.'”

“You can expect action, you can expect quality entertainment, you can expect a more refined technical boxer in the ring and you can expect nothing but action. But what you can really expect is I put out exactly what I’m saying – that I am the most entertaining fighter today.”

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title
presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254,
$854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2019): Canelo Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) hosted their final press conference today ahead of their 12-round fight for Kovalev’s WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s final press conference:

Canelo Alvarez, WBC Franchise, WBA, Lineal, RingMagazine Middleweight World Champion and WBA Super Middleweight World Champion:

“I want to say thank you to all of you guys, familiar faces, I want to thank you for all the support you’ve given me throughout my entire career. Thank you to Main Events, Golden Boy, DAZN, everybody, thank you. I’m ready. I’m ready to make history. I’m ready for this great fight with Kovalev. Thank you to my team, to my family, thank you to my beautiful daughter who’s here – hi my love, I love you. We are ready to win.”

Why Kovalev? “Because he’s the best in his division, he’s one of the best, that’s why we chose him, to make history by fighting one of the best.”

175 vs. 160: “I feel comfortable, I feel good, we’ll see on Saturday how it all goes but I feel good.”

Sergey Kovalev, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion:

“I’m sure this fight is going to be very interesting and very difficult for both of us because we never step back, never give up. I have to thank all my team, all of team Golden Boy and Canelo, and also thank you to all the people who are involved in this fight. Thanks to Las Vegas, thanks to MGM Grand for a nice stay and for everything. Thanks to all my boxing fans, let’s make a fight this Saturday.”

“My goal is to break his strategy and use my strategy in the fight. My goal is to defend this title and follow my dreams.”

Were you offended that Canelo chose you, perhaps seeing you as an easy win? “No, I’m happy. It’s nice that this is the biggest call in my boxing career, and to face Canelo, I’m happy. This is a big test for me – to prove one more time, I’m the best light heavyweight in the division.”

Will you be the first to KO Canelo? “You know, let’s fight, and in the fight you’ll get to see. It’s not my goal, because when you follow that goal, you can’t do it. I just want to get into the ring and box very well and make a great fight for boxing fans and the boxing world.”

“We’re two great champions, and right now, we respect each other inside and outside the ring. But we will do our job very well for the boxing fans. And we will be fighting, never step back, never give up, we will make a great fight 100%.”

Eddy Reynoso, Head Trainer and Manager of Canelo Alvarez:

“We have been in camp, we’ve been training, and as I told Saul, we are ready for this and we will show on Saturday what we have been preparing for. Kovalev, we have great respect for him as a fighter, great respect for his trainer and respect for his camp. We have trained, we have prepared, and we are ready for Saturday and to win.”

Jose “Chepo” Reynoso, Trainer and Manager of Canelo Alvarez:

“Everything is teamwork, everybody puts in a little bit to make this happen, so thank you to everyone for this. And I want to give thanks to the great fighter Kovalev for accepting this fight. This allowed history to be made, and because of him accepting this fight, Saul will be winning his fourth division title. Thank you to the people that participated in the sparring for this great fight, it was different, and it contributed a lot for us to be prepared for this.”

“A very special thanks to Saul, we have been together for 14 years, and we’ve come a long way and we are here in a very special moment. And this Saturday, Saul will have his cake with four candles – each candle for each division that he has won a title. On Saturday, expect Saul to be on the list of the immortals of this sport.”

Egis Klimas, Manager of Sergey Kovalev:

“I’m so proud to represent one of the best fighters in boxing, Sergey Kovalev. But I’m more proud to be involved in this historical fight, which all the fans want. I can’t talk much about what it means to win for Canelo, because he’s already a legendary fighter. He’s already top of the line. Sergey has bounced up and down, but I can tell you one thing – if Sergey can win this fight, which I believe he will, he will become the most recognized and the best fighter in the history of Russia. Let’s hope we’re going to have a good time, both guys are going to stay safe, and enjoy Saturday night’s fight.”

James “Buddy” McGirt, Trainer of Sergey Kovalev

“It’s going to be a great show Saturday. Most importantly, I have to thank Mr. Alvarez for making this fight happen. So much respect. I think you’re one of the best out there, and it’s going to be a great night of boxing on Saturday. I’m happy that 20 years from now, I can say I was a part of that. Everybody be ready, Sergey has some tricks up his sleeves, I know Alvarez does. Mr. Reynoso has done a great job with him since the Mayweather fight, he’s improved a whole lot, but you’ll see what we’ve been doing Saturday night.

Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy:

“This is a very important battle for Canelo and Sergey Kovalev and there’s a lot at stake for both fighters. When we first started working with Canelo over a decade ago, we knew he was destined to be great. I think we are all aware now that we are witnessing greatness in the making. What does it mean to be great? To be considered great at anything, a person must be above average, they must exceed what’s normal. We say some fighters are good, others are bad, but we reserve the term for those who are considerably above average, and through their various accomplishments they’re able to achieve that status. Few fighters in the history of boxing can be considered great, and this small group of people develops a fierce ambition and spirit of competition. This ambition comes natural to them. For me that’s what motivated me to spend of my teenage years putting aside the amusements of youth for the responsibility of greatness.”

“At the same time every natural gift must be cultivated by competition. You need to test your talents with other people who also have that same ambition. But what happens when those equal strengths and sizes are no longer competitive? Then the task becomes looking for even bigger challenges and I think that’s what makes a fighter great – the ambition to succeed, the spirit to compete, and the initiative to keep looking for that next challenge. This is an accomplishment that has only been achieved by an elite group of fighters. Bernard Hopkins did it moving from middleweight to light heavyweight, and I did it by moving several divisions throughout my career. Canelo is now attempting to become a four-weight world champion, an accomplishment that has only been achieved by an elite group of fighters. Canelo will also look to become the second Mexican fighter to capture the 175 title in the history of Mexican boxing, and Canelo will attempt that by fighting one of the most feared punchers in recent years. Kovalev is a three-time world champion. Kovalev is one of the most avoided fighters in his own division. With Kovalev’s strength and power, he can end the fight at any moment.”

“This is what it looks like when you have the initiative to keep looking for that next challenge. And then, only then, is the competition no longer against the man in front of you. It’s now between you and history. For those wanting to witness history from the comfort of their homes, the fight will be streamed live on DAZN. We want to thank DAZN for giving us the best platform in boxing.”

Bernard Hopkins, Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Business Partner:

“First, thanks everyone for supporting the fights that matter. For Canelo, I commend you again and respect you not only as a fighter, but as a man and not only as a champion, but as a business. I have super profound respect for Canelo because I have a history of taking on the best, and I see in the legacy that he’s building that Canelo has the same spirit. I know that he’s in the right mindset based on fighting the best in that division – none other than The Krusher. Thanks for bringing fights like this that make boxing a conversation in homes, coffee shops, bars, number houses in Philadelphia, as a conversation like other big sports whether it’s a playoff in the NBA, whether it’s NFL, golf, boxing is being talked about. And to see that, to me, Golden Boy, my partner Oscar De La Hoya, Eric, Robert, they are all on the same page and taking action to make these fights happen.”

“I must continue to tell you your job is not to be biased, or to be with us all the time, but to write what you see and write what’s being done. And that’s more important than what you’ve heard. And not being the first one to get it out, because at the end of the day, you do your own independent analysis. Enjoy the fight November 2 because I know Canelo will have his hands full and Sergey Kovalev is going to be ready. I’m very happy and very satisfied that boxing has been passed down, like you pass a baton, to these two great fighters, making it even greater.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events:

“I also want to thank the fighters, because without them, without guys who want to take risks, we don’t get to have great events like this one. The first time I ever watched Sergey Kovalev fight a round, I knew he was something special. I want to thank him today for proving me right about that. I also want to thank Canelo Alvarez for calling Sergey out because that took a lot of courage and that’s what it takes to be a great fighter, and we know he has it.”

About the Matryoshka doll she surprised Sergey with that artistically documented some of his career-defining moments: “The one thing all those fights had in common, is that they happened in the other fighter’s hometown. Sergey won them all, he drew strength from the crowd that was booing him, and he plans to make that happen again on Saturday.”

Richard Sturm, President of Las Vegas Live Entertainment and Sports:

“MGM Grand is thrilled to host this highly-anticipated matchup between two great champions – Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev, Saturday evening, as they make their return to Las Vegas. This will certainly be an exciting night as Canelo moves up in weight. We look forward to seeing you Saturday night for this great event.”

Bob Bennett, Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission:

“We are certainly honored and privileged to regulate these fights and we are prepared to go to work. Most importantly, we would like to thank the fighters and recognize them. Because of the fighters, they keep boxing exciting, alive, and continue to make history.”

Joe Markowski, EVP of DAZN North America:

“I would like to thank all the journalists who have traveled to Las Vegas for this week’s fight. Since our launch last September, you’ve kept us on our toes, challenged us to always do better but more importantly, you’ve been willing to keep an open dialogue with a new entrant into this storied sport. Since our launch last year, we’ve assembled the best schedule in boxing – something you’ve seen us market as Fight Season on DAZN, akin to the consistency that fans expect from the NFL and NBA. It’s a true season of fight sports to close out 2019.”

“Week on week, month on month, more subscribers are being treated to great events with interesting narratives – and no fight embodies that description better than Canelo vs. Kovalev. This is a hugely important week for the sport of boxing, a hugely important night for DAZN, and our biggest fight we’ve put on to date in the United States.”

“It’s one thing for a fighter to jump up two weight classes but it’s a different kettle of fish to jump up two weight classes and challenge the biggest name in the division. Canelo as we all know is not your typical fighter. His drive to continually seek out new challenges is truly admirable. In a little more than 10 months, Canelo has already fought three times on DAZN. He is the biggest draw in boxing, we couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title
presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254,
$854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2019): Canelo Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) made their grand arrivals today at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino in Las Vegas ahead of their 12-round fight for Kovalev’s WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov 2, 2019 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s grand arrivals:

Canelo Alvarez, WBC Franchise, WBA, Lineal, Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion and WBA Super Middleweight World Champion:

“As always, I’m very grateful that everybody is here, I’m very honored and I’m ready. This is very important for myself, for my career, for my history, for my family, for my team. To be a world champion in four different weight classes would be another chapter of my story.”

“Everything has been different, the weight, the training, and I can’t wait to see how it goes on Nov 2. I’ll do my best.”

Does the fan support ever get old? “No, it’s very motivating. This motivates me and I’m ready for triumph.”

Sergey Kovalev, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion:

“I feel great. I’m here for my glory. For my story. For my history. A couple fights ago, when I started to work with my new team Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz, they gave me back my belief in myself. With this team I can do more. You can see, with my last fights, a little bit of change to my technique and style. I’m ready to fight 12 rounds.”

“It’s not the goal to knock someone out, I just need to follow my instructions from the corner, from my coach, and everything will be fine.”

Is Canelo going from 160 to 175 a mistake? “You know, I respect his steps and his risks. This is boxing, but in boxing, only real men try to prove themselves, that they’re a real fighter, and Canelo is that. But this is my division, I have been in this division since my first fight, and I want to make my history, my story. He’s just trying. Right now, 175 has a lot of good fights right now, a lot of good fighters right now, even Canelo has come to 175.”

On all the boos from Canelofans: “I want to disappoint a lot of people on Saturday. In England, everybody was going against me, but after the fight, everyone was asking for my autograph. Your boo is good!”

Ryan Garcia, Lightweight Contender:

On his Fierce King jacket: “It’s just my new brand, so I wanted to rock it. I created the design and I just like the name, Fierce King. My nickname’s King and I’m fierce in the ring.”

On his social media presence: “It’s just an easy thing to talk about. I don’t really talk about it. I just focus on what I’m doing in the ring. Everyone else talks a lot, they like to mention my social media, but it’s an easy way to connect with my fans. With the click of a button, that’s 3.6 million fans, and I can update them and show them what I’m doing in the gym and with my training.”

“I’m here now, it don’t matter what he was thinking. I’m here now, I’m ready to do my thing Saturday night and prove that I’m the better fighter. Words are cheap, I’m just ready to show what I can do.”

On what a win Saturday would say to his naysayers: “I don’t know what it says to them, that’s up to their own judgment. I believe in myself and my team believes in me and that’s all that matters. This is a big moment and a big time in my life, so thank you all for your support.”

Romero Duno, NABO Lightweight Champion:

“I’m feeling excited. This is a big card. A lot of people said that King Ryan is going to beat you, but I said to myself that maybe I can have a technique to counter that kind of speed.”

Was he upset that Ryan Garcia didn’t accept his offer to fight in Carson last month after Avery Sparrow was taken off the card? “No, I respect the decision because I know that King Ryan had already prepared for a different opponent, and that’s why he didn’t accept the offer.”

“It feels so good. I’m so thankful to Golden Boy Promotions and to Oscar for putting me on this big card.”

Seniesa Estrada, WBC Silver Light Flyweight Champion:

“I’m feeling great, I had an amazing training camp and I’m just going to let all the work show in the ring Saturday night.”

“It’s very personal, even after I win I still won’t like her. There’s been a lot of talk from her for the past two years. I do my talking in the ring. Saturday night, we’re going to show who’s really the best.”

On Esparza saying she’s been ducking her: “That’s a lie, I’ve been wanting to fight her. I accepted this fight before she did and I was ready to go. I don’t fear anybody and Marlen Esparza will be the least one that I fear. I’m just ready to put on an exciting fight for women’s boxing and for the sport on Saturday night.”

Marlen Esparza, NABO Flyweight Champion:

Why is this fight finally happening now? “I forced it. I forced it for a long time, after I came back I really felt like I needed to go ahead and ask for it because I knew it was going to take a while. It was something that I was promised a long time ago but I’m back and I really want to fight.”

“It was really good, it was probably one of the best training camps of my life. I’m in a really good place mentally and when you get to this level of boxing, that’s what’s the most important. After so many years, you know how to box, it’s really the mentality and I feel like I’ve never been in a better place.”

“I don’t like her because she used my name to try to get signed before I turned pro. Before I turned pro, she said I used to run from her in the amateurs. And when I turned pro, a lot of the promoters were asking me if that was the truth. Anyone would get mad getting their name used, and completely not the truth too.”

“It’s such a big fight for women’s boxing. I feel like this will be a reintroduction into the boxing world and I feel like I’m in the best place to do it, and to represent women’s boxing with another girl who is Mexican-American. I couldn’t be in a better situation.”

“I just don’t like her. She’ll hate me even more after this. It is what it is.”

Blair Cobbs, Junior NABF Welterweight Champion:

“I was born with this confidence, I was born with this flair, I was born with everything that we have here. I was born for this moment. I am Blair ‘The Flair.'”

“It means it’s the opportunity for me to take over. Take over the show, the whole world. Millions around the world are going to see the baddest, the most exciting man in boxing today – Blair ‘The Flair’ Cobbs.”

“Shock and awe. You’re going to be shocked at everything that you see coming out of Blair ‘The Flair,’ you’re going to be raising to the edge of your seats every time you see Blair ‘The Flair.’ show. Look out for me because I am the best in boxing today.”

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title
presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254,
$854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

AS VEGAS, NV (October 28, 2019) – Unbeaten welterweight, Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (12-0-1, 8 KOs), who is managed by Prince Ranch Boxing’s Greg Hannley and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, has his sights set on steeling the show when he faces Carlos Ortiz (11-4, 11 KOs) on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez versus Sergey Kovalev ,November 2, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Cobbs vs. Ortiz will be a 10-round bout for the NABF welterweight title, and all the action will air live on DAZN. Live coverage of main card begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Here is what Blair Cobbs, who is also advised by Shahid Malik, had to say about his upcoming fight with Ortiz.

On his recent training camp with trainers Brandon Woods and Bones Adams:

“I really feel that I took my boxing IQ to a new level during this training camp. My coaches Brandon Woods and Bones Adams have got me looking sharp in the gym. I’m starting to understand what they want from me and works best with my God given talent. I can do many different things in the ring and it’s all starting to come together now. I’m in great shape and my body feels rested. All the preparation is finally over and now it’s time to zero in on the task at hand.”

On his matchup against Ortiz:

“I know Ortiz is a southpaw who comes to fight and has a lot of heart. He’s has had plenty of time to prepare for me, so I know he’s coming with his best, just like everyone who steps in the ring with me. My trainers got a masterful game plan in place, and I’m ready to execute. Expect me to control the fight from the opening bell. I’m not going to let this man breathe. If I see an opening, I’m going for the knockout.”

On fighting for the NABF Welterweight title:

“Winning the NABF title is something special because some of the greats have won that belt when they were on their way up to a world title shot. This is the fight that will get me to where I’m trying to go, which is to get ranked in the top 15. I know in due time I’ll get an opportunity to make my dreams come true, and fight for a world title.”

On fighting in Las Vegas on the Canelo vs. Kovalev card:

“Everyone knows Las Vegas is the boxing capitol of the world, and it’s where I call home now. I’m ready to become a super star in this sport. Since I moved to Las Vegas a few years ago, I’ve always saw myself fighting on a big card and here we are. I’m happy that Golden Boy and DAZN have me as the opening bout of the main card. They see the charisma and excitement that I bring to the ring, its what the fans want to see. I’m going to be my electrifying self and everyone watching will see a star in the making. Each fight is getting bigger and bigger and I can’t wait till I’m the main event on a big card like this. It’s Blair “The Flair” Time…Woooo!”

#

CREDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION: Credentials will be distributed at the
“Old MGM Grand Garden Arena Box Office” located outside the MGM Grand Garden Arena porte-cochere (southeast corner of the building at street level). Hours of Operation are:
Monday, Oct. 28: Noon to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29 to Friday, Nov. 1: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
NOTE: On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Old MGM Grand Garden Arena Box Office will not be open. Temporary credentials will be distributed from Studios A&B.
Saturday, Nov. 2: Noon to 6 p.m.

Canelo vs. Kovalev
is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title
presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate,
“THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy
“Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush,
Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254,
$854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 23, 2019) – Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs) hosted a media workout today at the House of Boxing in San Diego, Calif. ahead of his upcoming 12-round bout against Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) for his WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. Trainers Eddy Reynoso and Jose “Chepo” Reynoso also attended the workout. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively as one of the most-anticipated events this fight season on DAZN.

Below are quotes from today’s workout:

CANELO ALVAREZ, WBC FRANCHISE, WBA, LINEAL AND RING MAGAZINE MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION AND WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:

“I feel good! This is the weight I’m usually at during my normal life so it’s natural for me. I’ve been eating well, lifting more weights because I normally don’t lift weights when I’m losing weight. I’ve been eating how I normally do, of course staying healthy, but adding more rice, protein and carbohydrates. I’m entering his zone of comfort but we’re ready for this. We have the intelligence and skill to beat Kovalev and win the fight. It’s going to be one of the most important fights for me and my career. This title is very important, to be a four-time world champion in different divisions. This is historic for my career. In boxing you have to take risks to make history and it’s a huge risk for my career but we’re ready. We feel that we have the necessary skills to win this fight! I’m going to utilize all my skills in the ring. A body punch is always necessary in every fight and it’s a key move that I’m obviously going to utilize to my advantage to win this fight. We know what he has and what this challenge represents. We know he has long arms, his jab is really strong, and he knows how to move, but we’ve trained for this. He’s my strongest opponent without a doubt and it’s a huge risk for me but we’re ready.”

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, TRAINER AND MANAGER OF CANELO ALVAREZ:

“We’re in a very optimistic mindset thanks to all the hard work we’ve done, all the preparation. We have confidence and optimism because we’ve done everything right. In the gym we have a saying, “What’s done well can’t turn out poorly.” This would be a great achievement for Saul to win this fight that very few in the history of boxing have done. For us, for Saul and for the team too since we’ve started together. Everyone needs to understand that we’ve been working together for 15 years and have come this far to now fight for this fourth title, together. We’re optimistic, happy and confident that we can take this fourth title. Canelo is a man of many risks and he always likes to take risks. I admire him for that. He knows the risk he’s taking but the prize for that risk will be huge. We know Kovalev’s style because we’ve seen him for years. We know he is strong and tall, but knowing this we accepted this fight because we know Saul can beat him.”

EDDY REYNOSO, HEAD TRAINER AND MANAGER OF CANELO ALVAREZ:

“We’re focused. We’ve been training for more than three months and have prepared very well. We haven’t had any setbacks with injuries or illnesses and we’re good. We’ve taken care of ourselves and we prepared well to be able to win this fight. Kovalev is a strong fighter and he has lots of good qualities. He’s made it this far in his career because of that. He has a good punch and has a lot of heart. We’ve seen some errors in his fighting style and we hope to capitalize on those mistakes the day of the fight. It’s very important for us and for Mexican boxing that new figures arise, or new records are being broken. Whether that’s Saul or someone else, I think it’s important for everyone that’s in the world of boxing.”

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254, $854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/,
https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 23, 2019) – Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), hosted a media workout yesterday at the Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, Calif. ahead of his upcoming 12-round bout against Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs) for his WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, also attended the workout, along with trainer Buddy McGirt. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively as one of the most-anticipated events this fight season on DAZN.

Below are quotes from yesterday’s workout:

SERGEY “KRUSHER” KOVALEV, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion:

“Canelo has nothing to lose in this fight. He has a chance to make history. But I have to defend my title. This is the biggest fight of my career. I’ve never been in this situation, where someone is coming from middleweight. I’m not going to make a prediction, but I am going to go in there and defend my title.”

“I think Canelo will be just as strong at light heavyweight. I think he will weigh the same as me, 175 pounds. He will be heavier than usual, but I think he will be comfortable. When you lose weight for a fight, you lose power and stamina, and he won’t have to do that.”

“My preparation has been well. We have a great camp with Buddy McGirt. I had a short rest since my last fight. But I think that’s better. My body feels really good, and I’m ready for this fight. This fight will be very interesting. It has a worldwide intrigue. I can’t wait.”

BUDDY MCGIRT, Trainer of Sergey Kovalev:

“Everything has been great, thank God. I can’t complain. The training is running on time. Camp has been great because we haven’t been looking at Canelo like the smaller guy. We’re not looking to go into this fight as the bigger, stronger guy. We’re looking to go in there as the better and smarter fighter.”

“People have been asking about Canelo’s body attack. But nobody likes getting hit to the body. I don’t care who you are. But the thing is this: What’s going to happen when Canelo gets hit to the body? Guys that like to go to the body, don’t like it when you to go to their body.”

KATHY DUVA, CEO of Main Events:

“This is one of the most intriguing fights I’ve ever seen, let alone made. You have a guy in Canelo who is a great body puncher, and maybe that plays into Sergey’s Achille’s heel, shall we say. In Sergey, you have someone with the hardest and most accurate jab in the sport. I’ve seen that be a problem for Canelo as well. They both have a strength that will play into the other guy’s vulnerability. They’re both very smart. They’re both great fighters, and they both want to test themselves.”

“You don’t get fights like this that often. I’ve been doing this for over 40 years, and you just don’t get that many fights where it’s just two people testing each other to find out who is best. It’s wonderful.”

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight
World Title presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254,
$854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez,
https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/,
https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

DENVER – October 23, 2019 – On Saturday, November 2, Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs) will take on a new challenge as he moves into the 175-pound weight class in a 12-round fight against Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) for Kovalev’s WBO Light Heavyweight World Title.This highly anticipated bout and its co-featured fights will be broadcast live from MGM Grand in Las Vegasto big screens across the nation.A full undercard will be shown prior to the main event.

Tickets for “Canelo Alvarez vs Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev” can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.comor at participating theater box offices now.

The live broadcast of “Canelo Alvarez vs Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev” presented by Fathom Events, Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions is set for Saturday, November 2 beginning at beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 8:00 p.m. CT/ 7:00 p.m. MT/ 6:00 p.m. PT/ 5:00 p.m. AK/ 4:00 p.m. HI. Boxing fans throughout the U.S. can watch the event in more than 500 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Canelo, the 29-year-old native of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, became the face of boxing by taking on some of the biggest names in the sport. At 154 pounds, Canelo captured several world titles and defeated the likes of Austin “No Doubt” Trout, Sugar Shane Mosley, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara and Liam “Beefy” Smith. At 160 pounds, Canelo defeated Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs to establish himself as the king of the middleweight division. In the 168-pound division, Canelo became the WBA Super Middleweight World Champion by stopping Rocky Fielding in three rounds.

Canelo will now look to make history again by becoming the second Mexican boxer to hold a world title in the light heavyweight division. The pound-for-pound king will at the same time join an elite group of four-division world champions from Mexico.

On November 2, Kovalev (36) will participate in his 17thconsecutive world title bout and the most lucrative fight of his career against the biggest star in boxing. A Russian knockout artist and Three-Time Light Heavyweight World Champion, “Krusher” is no stranger to fighting in hostile territory. He captured the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title in 2013 when he traveled to Wales and scored a stunning knockout of Nathan Cleverly. Kovalev traveled to Atlantic City to meet future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins to unify the WBO, WBA and IBF titles with a lopsided unanimous decision victory in 2014. As unified champion, “Krusher” successfully defended his titles twice against current WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal in Montreal, scoring a stoppage victory both times.

In August of this year, Kovalev finally got the chance to fight in his own hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia, stopping undefeated mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde in front of a sold-out crowd.

“We are proud to partner again with Golden Boy to bring boxing’s biggest star, Canelo Alvarez back to cinemas nationwide,” said Ray Nutt, Fathom Events CEO. “Fight fans will want to see all the action up on the big screen as Canelo takes on Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev.”

The undercard for this event will feature a full night of action. Rising superstar Ryan Garcia (18-0, 15 KOs) of Victorville, Calif. will face “Ruthless” Romero Duno (21-1, 16 KOs) of Cotabato City, Philippines in the 12-round co-main event..

Two of the most exciting and popular female boxers in the sport today will finally settle their heated rivalry as Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (17-0, 7 KOs) of East Los Angeles, Calif. and Marlen Esparza (7-0, 1 KOs) of Houston, Texas battle for the vacant Interim WBA Flyweight Title.

Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (12-0-1, 8 KOs), a fan-favorite native of Philadelphia, will fight for the vacant NABF Welterweight Title against Carlos Ortiz (11-4, 11 KOs) of Torreon, Mexico.

For artwork/photos related to “Canelo Alvarez vs Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev” visit the Fathom Events press site.

About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the leading event cinema distributor with theater locations in all top 100 DMAs® (Designated Market Areas) and ranks as one of the largest overall theater content distributors. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom Events offers a variety of unique entertainment events in movie theaters such as live performances of the Metropolitan Opera, top Broadway stage productions, major sporting events, epic concerts, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series, inspirational events and popular anime franchises. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes for unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live Digital Broadcast Network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 1,010 locations and 1,628 screens in 182 DMAs. The company also provides corporations a compelling national footprint for hosting employee meetings, customer rewards events and new product launches. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

About Golden Boy:
Los Angeles-based Golden Boy was established in 2002 by Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy is a media and entertainment brand committed to making fighting entertainment more accessible and affordable. The company’s in-house production team develops creative original programming for ESPN, RingTV.com and international channels across the globe. The company holds the exclusive rights to top boxers and has promoted some of the biggest and highest grossing events in the history of the sport. Now, Golden Boy is one of the most successful boxing entertainment companies in the world and shapes the future of boxing for fighters and fans alike through its 2019 partnership with streaming platform, DAZN.

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 16, 2019) – Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), hosted an international media conference call yesterday to discuss his upcoming 12-round bout against Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs) for Kovalev’s WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, also participated on the call, along with trainer Buddy McGirt. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively, as one of the most-anticipated events this fight season on DAZN.

Below is a transcript of the call:

KATHY DUVA: Welcome, everyone. We’re here to discuss the upcoming historic fight between Canelo Alvarez and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev for Sergey’s WBO Light Heavyweight Title which will take place November 2nd, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tickets are on sale now through axs.com.

The fight will be streamed on DAZN. The DAZN live bouts will involve Ryan Garcia versus ‘Ruthless’ Romero Duno to unify the vacant WBC Lightweight Title, with the NABO Lightweight Title.

Bakhram Murtazaliev will take on Jorge Fortea for an IBF Junior Middleweight Eliminator.

Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada will take on Marlen Esparza for the vacant Interim WBA Women’s Flyweight Title.

On the undercard, Evan Holyfield will make his professional debut against Nick Winstead.

Meiirim Nursultanov will take on Cristian Olivas in a ten-round middleweight battle for the WBC USNBC Middleweight Title.

Blair “The Flair” Cobbs will take on Carlos Ortiz for the vacant NABF Welterweight Title, Uzbeck prospect Becktmir Melikuziev (2-0, 2 KOs) will compete in a super middleweight bout, and rising 17-year-old prospect Tristan Kalkreuth, 2-0, of Duncanville, Texas, will return in a four-round cruiserweight fight.

BUDDY MCGIRT: Listen, I’m excited about the fight. I just think that they picked the wrong veteran to mess with when they picked Sergey. They should have found somebody else. The world will see on November 2nd that Sergey Kovalev is the real deal.

SERGEY KOVALEV: Hello, everybody. I want to say that I’m really excited about my next fight with Canelo Alvarez. I must show the world that I deserve to be the best in light heavyweight division.

This is huge goal in my boxing career from when I was a young guy. Canelo is really talented and really famous, so this is a lot of pressure to me, but believe me, I’m in boxing already since I was 11 years old and I should be fine. It’s nothing for me. I should just get inside the ring and do my best job.

I’m really happy that I’m still in the business on the top level of boxing. I can’t wait for November 2nd. Thank you.

KATHY DUVA: And I think I can amplify his comments only to say that I had a conversation with a Russian reporter the other day who has known Sergey, and he mentioned that Sergey, since this past summer, has changed. He’s different. What’s changed? What’s different? I don’t understand it. It’s clearly the introduction of this fantastic team. Buddy McGirt being, if not the best, one of the best trainers in the sport, and Teddy Cruz, his physical trainer. Both made a huge impact.

I think Sergey’s resurgence is a tribute to not only their efforts, but Sergey being a real champion showing what real champions do.

SERGEY KOVALEV: I want to say one more thing that right now I have a great team with great coaches – Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz – and right now I’m feeling really comfortable with my team. In our team I have good emotions, and right now all of us follow our dream and get victory over Canelo.

KATHY DUVA: Thank you. It really does show, speaking as a member of that team.

Q. Sergey just fought in August against Yarde, and, relatively speaking, it was a quick turnaround, particularly for a veteran fighter. I wonder if there were any accommodations that made for that fact as you train for this fight? Anything you had to change because of the quick turnaround?

BUDDY MCGIRT: All I can say is the only thing we had to change is not having to come to camp full force because he was already in shape. We just took it day-by-day, nice and easy, nice and slow. We didn’t have to get in shape like we normally do. Didn’t have to lose weight like normal. I think it’s a blessing that it was a quick turnaround.

SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, yes. For me yes, it’s not enough rest between the fight, but I really like that I fight often, with a short rest. I don’t like four, five months or more than four months rest. This is killing me. I am getting lazy. I am getting busy with my family.

But now just a small rest, like three weeks, three to four weeks, and I’m ready. I’m back again to training camp. Now it’s really, really good under control with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz. Right now, I’m feeling good.

Q. Just to make clear, you like the fact that there was a short turnaround as opposed to a much longer layoff?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I like it, yes. I like short rest between the fights. One month enough, you know.

Q. Just how surprised were you that a middleweight like Canelo Alvarez called your name? Because Oscar De La Hoya, his promoter, and Canelo, have said your name several times I think even before the Daniel Jacobs fight, that this would be a fight they would be interested in. I think a lot of the fans and reporters were like, ‘he can’t really be serious about that.’ But he did call your name and now you’re fighting him. How surprised were you compared to many others that thought this was not really a fight he was serious about?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I respect Canelo because he goes right now up two divisions, and this is a huge goal for him and also for myself. Canelo wants to try get title in light heavyweight division, and if he will not get the title nobody will say, ‘Eh you lose.’ He has nothing to lose. He is just trying.

But I should defend my title. I will defend my title. If I lose, I lose more than Canelo lose. Canelo, he is trying to make his history but I’m here. I’m in my position.

Q. You mentioned that he wants to make history, which he would if he is able to capture this belt. I know you don’t know the answer because I don’t think you’ve had the conversation, but what is your feeling? He took and called you for this fight because he genuinely wants to make the history, or he sees you as a big name who’s vulnerable, but also somebody that his broadcaster would accept other than the third GGG fight?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I don’t think that he is avoiding the fight against GGG, but he now wants to make history. He wants to face me because I am the best in the light heavyweight division.

His fights against GGG what happen, will happen. It doesn’t matter. Canelo win the fight November 2nd or not. I think he just want to try to make history.

But we will see on November 2nd. Like I will be in the ring and we will be ready for everything what he will bring.

Q. You’ve had so many big wins in your career. I’m thinking about Bernard Hopkins, the two fights against Jean Pascal, the revenge match against Storm Alvarez. In all the fights you’ve had – when you went overseas and won the title against Cleverly – would a victory against Canelo, even though he’s a smaller fighter, but because he’s such a huge name, would you think in the later stages of your career if you win this would be the biggest win of your career? I would like Kathy’s opinion on this also.

SERGEY KOVALEV: You know, if Canelo go to 175 division, that means that his body is ready. Yes, he is a shorter height, but his weight will be on fight day more than 175, I’m sure.

Maybe he no longer like losing the weight, because he’s tired long time, long boxing career, still losing the weight. But I know he would like fighting with a full stomach. (Laughter.)

Q. Would you consider it your biggest win?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Yeah, it’s going to be my biggest win. Yes, of course. This is the biggest name I fought after Bernard Hopkins.

Q. Kathy? You promoted all those big fights.

KATHY DUVA: Yeah, I think Sergey said it exactly right. He’s the biggest most marketable name on his record, and that, in the eyes of fans, makes it the biggest, of course.

Q. How is it working with Buddy McGirt and what does he bring to the table?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I’m really happy that I found this coach. I met with Buddy long time ago. I came in U.S. in 2009 and I met with Buddy 2011 or 2012 at some boxing fight, but I never thought that Buddy can be my coach. But right now, everything has happened for a reason, and I started working with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz and I’m really happy.

I really like to work with them. We will see what will be on November 2nd, but I’m sure that this will be the great fight.

Q. Did he teach you more than you already knew?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Buddy gives me everything right – that I lost after losing control of the trainings. All my titles that I had, three title before my first loss and I had used all my amateur experience to get those titles. But then I would have big rest between the fights, and I lost all my technique, because I didn’t have good coach in my training camp. Nobody controlled me. Nobody give me instruction what I should to do. I did everything by myself.

When I lost the fight, I get to work, then another fight, another fight. I started looking for the right coach who can help me, and I found Buddy McGirt.

Q. Sergey, this is a question about your motivation in the fight and what the fight means to you. You’re 36 and closer to the end of your career than the beginning. You also stand to make a career-high payday in this fight. A lot of people said you’ve already won simply by signing the contract. The question is: What would a win in this fight mean to you? How motivated are you to come away with a win on November 2nd?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I am really motivated for my future boxing career. I would like two more great years. I can fight easy, because right now I have a great team and great coaches like Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz who really help me.

Right now, really big motivation to get victory over Canelo, because after this victory there are more opportunities that will be in front of me.

Q. Same question to Buddy. If you can talk about the energy in the camp and what a win would mean for you and your team, if you guys come out on top.

BUDDY MCGIRT: Well, the camp is great because everybody gets along. Everybody trusts everybody. We have a relaxed mood and we know what we have to do, so it makes for a good camp.

As far as if we win, the statement should be when we win, because I believe in my heart that Sergey is going to win this. It’s not going to be as hard as people think.

As far as myself, it’s not about me right now. It’s about Sergey making history. It’s not about me. It’s about Sergey.

Q. Buddy, how open is Sergey to different styles, strategies? How coachable is he? I know you worked with Arturo Gatti, are you going to do the same thing with Sergey Kovalev?

BUDDY McGIRT: Sometimes when we’re in the gym Sergey comes to me with ideas, and they make sense. Like he said earlier, he got away from what he did best in the amateurs. He showed me a video of the amateurs and I’m like, ‘What happened to this guy?’

He goes, ‘Well, when I started knocking people, I got away from it.’ I’m like, ‘We’ve got to get back to this.’ He goes, ‘But I’m the Krusher.’ I said, ‘Well, now you’re going to be Smart Krusher.’

That’s what I say, people underestimate his boxing IQ because he’s always knocked everybody out. He’s smarter than people give him credit for.

Q. Is he open to different strategies in case his forward pressure and his professional style that he adopted…

BUDDY McGIRT: Oh, yeah. We discuss it. If he feels something, he’ll let me know when we get to the gym, and if I feel something, I let him know. We’re on the same page at all times.

Q. How is it for you to be the underdog, a decided underdog in this fight? That hasn’t been the case yet in your career where your opponent is viewed as big favorite. Does that motivate you? Paid any attention to that?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I don’t worry about if I’m the underdog or not. I just feel like we will be in the same ring, and everybody will be in the same position one-on-one, one against one.

The end will show who’s the best. Canelo is a very talented boxer and really experienced. And believe me, I’m right now getting really good instruction from my team and very good training camp. Everything goes very well.

We will show to the boxing world that Krusher is here. Krusher is back.

Q. Canelo obviously has a history in Las Vegas of winning close decisions or certainly getting the benefit of the doubt on scorecards more often than not. Does that make you feel any pressure to have to beat him by knockout, or are you okay with the fight going the distance? You’ve also lost a very close decision in Las Vegas yourself.

SERGEY KOVALEV: I will follow nstructions from Buddy McGirt, what’s the plan? The plan will begin after the first round. Every minute I will follow his instruction after each round what he will be saying to me.

Q. So, you don’t feel like you need to knock him out to win the fight I guess is my question?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, but that’s not my goal. My goal to get the victory, by any costs. By knockout is very well, yes, of course.

Q. Obviously there is another very meaningful light heavyweight title fight on Friday. Wondering your thoughts on the Beterbiev-Gvozdyk fight and of course I would assume you would like to fight the winner if you beat Canelo, correct?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Of course. I should beat Canelo, and the next fight I will be open for unification fight. Right now, I have a concentration and focus on Canelo fight.

I will watch this fight for sure this Friday, and we’ll see who’s the best of these two guys. I think like one of those guys will get victory. (Laughter.) Not like a draw. Somebody will win.

Q. When Canelo Alvarez spoke to us on his call last week, he was asked about his body attack. He’s a tremendous body puncher, and you have shown that you have had some problems when guys attack you to the body. He said that will be a big part of what he plans to do in the fight. How do you make sure that doesn’t become a factor in the fight? I’d like your opinion and Buddy’s since you have to come up with a game plan to defend against the body shots.Buddy, do you have any thoughts about that particular part of Canelo Alvarez’s game plan?

BUDDY MCGIRT: I mean, it’s obvious that’s his game plan, because that’s one of his biggest tools, is body punching. And for the record, nobody likes to get hit in the body. I don’t give a shit who you are.

What we did was we ordered these XXXL shorts for Sergey and we are going to pull the shorts up to his chest and then we’ll be okay. (Laughter.)

The question is what’s going to happen when Canelo gets hit to the body?

Q. Sergey has shown in the Yarde fight as well as many other fights in his career, he has a superb jab. It’s very heavy. It’s very much like a power shot as opposed to a jab. How significant do you believe that Sergey’s jab is going to be in the fight against Canelo?

BUDDY MCGIRT: Well, the main thing is to avoid those type of instances where we get in there and let Canelo feel comfortable. No matter what he tries to do, the key is to make him uncomfortable in anything that he tries to do.
That only happened to him one time, and that was in the Mayweather fight. Mayweather made him uncomfortable and he really couldn’t get in his groove. After that, he became a better fighter and he was able to dominate everybody.

Q. The jab is such a big punch for Sergey; it does so much damage. Just wondered how much emphasis is there for you in the camp to make sure he shoots that down the middle against a smaller guy who has probably never been hit with a shot like that from a guy as big as Sergey Kovalev?

BUDDY MCGIRT: Funny thing is since the Alvarez rematch I’ve never had to remind Sergey again about the jab.

Q. Very good. Sergey, maybe you could address that. How important is it to have a heavy jab against Canelo Alvarez?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I never punch really hard my jab. I just do my jab; that’s it. It’s hard because I have like heavy bones maybe. I don’t know. But I not make it hard like that by myself.

Q. I mean, your last win was with a jab.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, it was by jab. I don’t know. But I didn’t punch really hard. Maybe in the fight against Canelo I will make it more harder and we’ll see. Just fight will show everything, who’s the best.

Q. Sergey, you have bounced back now from some losses and are facing a very big fight. Do you think because of the journey you’ve had you appreciate this opportunity more now than you would have ten years ago? You think you have a different mental approach to it?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Ten years ago, I was younger and didn’t have enough experience. But now I’m ten years older and more experienced. Ten years ago, I came in U.S. with the amateur experience only. Now, I’m getting day-by-day, fight-by-fight, professional experience with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz.

I’m really excited to work with this team, and thanks to God that everything’s happen for a reason. I’m happy.

Q. Do you think you’re ten years wiser also? Is that just as important?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, yes. Now I am more smarter, yes, right.

Q. And Kathy, do you think this is an important factor – you’ve seen Sergey a long time – in his road to getting here, that he is wiser, and his attitude reflects an approach that’s going to serve him well now?

KATHY DUVA: I think that as the journey he has been through, as painful as it was, from time-to-time, as we all experience life, the pain is the thing that teaches us. It’s the painful times that make us better in the long run. It’s the hard knocks that make us more careful about what we say and do and think.

I think that’s everybody’s life experiences. Sergey has had some real obstacles in his way in recent years, and as painful as it was, as Sergey keeps saying, things happen for a reason. This is what led him to this particular team at this point in time in his corner. I think that it has all worked out exactly as well as it possibly could.

Now he will go into this fight knowing he has every chance that he could possibly have to win and feeling good about it. As he keeps saying, I’m happy, I’m happy. That’s what is showing. That’s what I’m seeing. I’m seeing the smile on his face that I saw leading up to the Cleverly fight. I hadn’t seen it in a long time.

It’s been a pleasure to watch this and be able to be in such a significant fight at this stage in his career is the reward for all of the work he’s done and all he’s been through to get there.

Q. In the negotiations for this, I know Sergey was unhappy with Vegas. I mean, I know this is a big fight and probably had to take it anywhere. Was there any talk about going anywhere other than Las Vegas?

KATHY DUVA: As a dynamic of this negotiation, just made that impossible. We got the fight we wanted; we got the money we wanted. The way to get that money is to go to a place where you can generate it. We’re realists. We asked, as always, for judges who will be fair. We hope that the commission recognizes that we don’t want the names of the judges or the referee to be the story.

We’re going to be where the crowd is going to be very much pro-Canelo. We know that happens. We know judges are influenced by those crowds, and I can talk a lot simply to that.

But what Sergey needs to do is fight like the veteran that he is. He needs to win and dominate round by round. He needs to not go in there head hunting trying to get a knockout. He knows that now.

Again, the experience he’s had has informed that. If you look at the scoring in the first six rounds of the first Ward fight, he was ahead. Clearly.

He let Ward back in the fight. He got tired and we’ve addressed those issues with this new training situation. I don’t think that’s an issue anymore.

He needs to get out there and win and dominate, just as he did with Alvarez the second time and frankly as he did with Yarde. We went and re-watched the fight, there was about 20 seconds during one round in which he was having a little bit of a hard time.

But he dominated that fight, and that’s what he needs to do.

Q. Sergey, obviously Canelo is looking to do something not many people have even attempted moving up two weight classes. Do you feel like you, as the champion and someone who has fought in light heavyweight far longer than Canelo is more confident in knowing that you are the bigger guy against the smaller guy in Canelo going to be making his light heavyweight debut?

SERGEY KOVALEV: Every fight for me is very important, but this fight is the most important because there is now a guy who makes the move like two divisions and want to beat me, to get my title.

This is very important for me, more important to defend my title, because like now he is a guest in my division. My plans are different, and after the fight with Canelo I will follow for my dream.

With this fight very good for boxing fans. I’m ready. I’ll be ready with my team to defend my WBO Title.

Q. The fight against Anthony Yarde back in August, after the fight, did you immediately think that physically you were ready already to face Canelo Alvarez? Did you need to take maybe a few days to sort of think about it and decide whether or not you were ready to face, or not ready to face, but at least hoping you’re physically ready enough to face Canelo on such a quick turnaround?

SERGEY KOVALEV: I have great coach now and I believe them what they tell me. Teddy Cruz and Buddy McGirt is the best coaches in the world and I believe them 100%.

I think they can really help in the fight against Canelo.

Q. Kathy, obviously this has been a fight that’s been in the works for sure several months. What sort of change in those initial pre-Yarde negotiations versus now that sort of allowed the fight to come together? Almost fairly quickly after the Anthony Yarde fight, was it the fact that Sergey really needed to get that mandatory out of the way and that kind of drove a wedge in the negotiations?

KATHY DUVA: Yes, prior to the Yarde fight, early on we weren’t getting the kind of offers we needed to make the fight. By the time the offer came we were just too far down road with Yarde. As Sergey made very clear at the time, he felt an obligation to go and fight in his hometown. He didn’t want local fans to think he would turn his back on them just because he was offered a lot of money. We had already gotten through that, the biggest issue, which was the money.

Just a week after that to get Golden Boy back to where they were in the summer. There was a lot less to talk about the second time around, and so it came together a lot more easily. And we didn’t have the obstacles of having to fight the mandatory.

Thank you everyone, as always, for your interest. I think boxing thrives when we have these big fights. This is one of those nights when you can call your casual friends to make sure they watch because it is going to be a great one.

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254, $854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez, www.facebook.com/thekrusher/, www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKovalev.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloKovalev to a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy or Main Events where applicable for any photo and/or video usage.

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 10, 2019) – Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs), the face of boxing and the king of the middleweight division, hosted an international media conference call today to discuss his upcoming 12-round bout against champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 28 KOs) for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title. Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy, participated on the call, along with trainers Eddy Reynoso and Jose “Chepo” Reynoso. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively as one of the most anticipated events this fight season on DAZN.

Below is what today’s participants had to say on the call:

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Hello, and thank you for dialing into the Canelo Alvarez media call. On November 2, Canelo Alvarez will look to make history as he moves up two weight classes, challenging Sergey “Crusher” Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight world title. Keep in mind that Sergey Kovalev has a record of 34-3 with 29 knockouts, so obviously this is a very, very difficult and tough challenge, but that’s exactly who Canelo is, a guy who challenges the very best and will always do so.

Tickets are still on sale and selling fast, so we’re really excited about that, and this historical fight will take place exclusively live on DAZN, the sports streaming platform that has changed the way consumers enjoy combat sports. We want to thank DAZN for providing us at Golden Boy with the best platform in boxing.

We are also happy to announce that our sponsors for a long time for many years are Tecate, the official beer of boxing, and Hennessy, never stop, never settle, and the brand new Grapefruit Crush Knockout flavor.

We will now open it up for questions, and I am also happy to announce that Ryan Garci­a, who is the up-and-coming superstar in boxing, will also be participating in the co-main event, and he is also trained by the great trainer for many years now, who also trains Canelo Alvarez, to say a few words, the Trainer of the Year who has a stable of fighters who is growing, that is Eddy Reynoso. Eddy?

EDDY REYNOSO: Obviously I’m very happy that we’re all on the call, and I’m ready. I’m preparing Canelo Alvarez to be the best he can on November 2nd.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Also it’s my pleasure to introduce another man who is on Alvarez’ team and in his corner. He’s been there forever for the longest time, and that is Jose “Chepo” Reynoso.

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO: (Answer not translated).

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it is my pleasure to introduce to you a young man who has continued to make history in the sport of boxing, has continued to prove that he is the very best, not only in the division but in boxing in general in the world. Every single fight that he takes, every challenge that he has, he’s always been up against the very best, and obviously you take a look at his career and he’s only getting better, and that’s a testament to his great trainers, to his managers and to himself. The hard work, the discipline, the dedication that he puts into his work has gotten him to the top to be the very best. So it is my pleasure to introduce to you the current WBC franchise world champion, WBA lineal and Ring Magazine’s middleweight world champion, and he is currently the WBA super middleweight champion. With a record of 52 wins, one loss, 35 knockouts, I’ll introduce you to Canelo Alvarez.

CANELO ALVAREZ: Hi, how is everyone. Thanks for the support. As always, I want to thank the media. I want to thank everyone for their support. I’m training 100 percent. This is going to be a big challenge that we have in front of us, and we’re happy to take it with a lot of responsibility and a lot of discipline. Thank you.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Okay, we will open it up for questions now.

Q. Canelo, I wondered if you could just speak to your decision-making process to decide that it was Sergey Kovalev that you wanted to fight and that you wanted to go up two weight divisions. I know you fought at middleweight against Fielding, but you really have been a middleweight. What was the thought process for selecting Kovalev, and what was the drive to do that?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Obviously I spoke with my team. We talked with my team, with Eddy more than anything. He wanted that fight. He wanted to get a fourth title against one of the best fighters in that division, and we wanted to make history in boxing and leave a big legacy, so it looked like a good idea. It’s a risk that we’re taking, but that’s boxing.

Q. Canelo, the weight limit is 175 pounds, but I wonder — I was thinking about when Manny Pacquiao, for example, fought for the junior middleweight title against Margarito. He didn’t come close to being 154 pounds. He weighed in around 144, 145 pounds. Do you anticipate when you fight Sergey that you’ll be all the way at 175, or do you think you’ll be a little bit smaller than that and just be natural at whatever weight you come in at? Where do you expect to weigh on fight night or at the weigh-in?

CANELO ALVAREZ: I will be on weight at 175 pounds. That’s what I’m going to weigh, 175 pounds. God willing, that’s what we’re working on.

Q. Can you speak about the particulars that you’re doing in your training to put on that kind of weight properly? You looked in tremendous condition in your most recent fight, but now you’re going to be going up even more weight. What kinds of things are you doing? Maybe Eddy could speak to that, also, as the trainer, what you’re doing to put that weight on the right way.

CANELO ALVAREZ: That’s what I’m doing, I’m lifting more weights. I hadn’t lifted that much previously. A lot of reps but not that much weight, so I’m lifting more weights, eating more carbs, eating protein, and that’s what we’re doing to make weight.

EDDY REYNOSO: That’s what we’ve been doing in the gym, as well, lifting more weights. We also have to keep in mind the nutrition, eating more carbs, obviously, and then doing sparring with fighters who are taller and stronger, and so far things have been going well. There have been no injuries, no setbacks, and hopefully we become four-division world champion.

Q. Oscar, I wondered if you could give me, as a guy when you were a professional fighter before you were a promoter, you went through six different weight classes and won world titles in those different weight divisions. Can you give me your perspective what Canelo is trying to do by moving up two weight divisions in this case to fight probably the most recognized light heavyweight out there?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Well, he’s doing it to make history, I believe. Fighters move up in weight class to make history and to separate themselves from ordinary fighters. Two weight classes is not an easy task, but when did Canelo ever take easy tasks? And obviously that’s very admirable because nobody in boxing does it today. Fighters sometimes take the easy road out, and Canelo is taking this tough road.

Q. What does it say to you, then, Oscar, that he did not try to fight or make a big deal about getting Kovalev to do this fight at a catch weight, that he’s doing it at the 175-pound limit, not making him drain even one or two pounds to come down lower than that weight division?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: It shows who he is. It shows his character. It shows what he wants to accomplish in the sport, and that’s to make history and to one day be considered the best in the business.

Q. Did you try to convince him to ask for a catch weight?

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: No, not at all.

Q. What do you think in the sense of boxing terms is the biggest challenge that Kovalev will present, and what does it mean to have a young fighter like Ryan García part of your team? We want to know your perspective; what kind of advice would you give him?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Moving up two divisions against a world champion is a big challenge for me, worrying about a champion at light heavyweight. But I also think that it’s the most important fight of my career. That’s why we are doing this, to keep making history. That’s what I like. I like those challenges.

And the fact that Ryan is in our team, well, the truth is we like to support young fighters, fighters who really want to be someone in their life, and he’s a young man who trains really well and learns, as well.

Q. If you had a chance to respond to your detractors about the risks in moving up two divisions, what would you tell these people regarding their criticisms?

CANELO ALVAREZ: The truth is with the critics who aren’t with me, who are always going to talk about anything I do, I have nothing to respond to them with. I’ll never make them happy. I don’t try to, and I don’t hope to.

Q. We’ve always talked about making history, capturing titles, but before this fight did you ever think that you would be moving up to 175 pounds? Or is this something that you just decided after your last fight?

CANELO ALVAREZ: We decided that after the last fight. Obviously we had thought about it before the fight with Jacobs because media asked, they asked if it was possible to be moving up to 175 pounds, and it didn’t sound bad, and then we started to think about it. But first, of course, we had to pass the first challenge, which was against Jacobs, and then we decided to move up in weight.

Q. Did you get a chance to see the Kovalev fight in Russia against Yarde?

CANELO ALVAREZ: No, he’s a great fighter, and he’s taking a big risk to be moving up two weight divisions, but we believe in ourselves. We believe in our capabilities to win the world title, and we do this with the conviction that we have the tools to accomplish this.

Q. The goal obviously right now is to win this title at 175 pounds, though obviously also you have titles at 160 pounds and 168 pounds. Have there been discussions about what weight you will fight in after this fight, irrespective of the result of this upcoming fight?

CANELO ALVAREZ: No, the truth is, no, we are focused on 100 percent on this fight. Afterward we’ll see what follows. We are 100 percent focused on this fight, and we’ll have to see what comes after.

Q. Canelo, over the years you’ve mentioned that your goal is to represent Mexico in accomplishing as many titles as you can obtain. At this point you have a big task in front of you on November 2 against Kovalev by going up those two weight classes. Looking ahead, would you see yourself chasing another title in another weight class, or would you focus, as well, on perhaps another big name, for example, in Andre Ward, if he were to come out of retirement to fight you?

CANELO ALVAREZ: You know, right now to move yet to another division would be a lot. We can’t exaggerate. It would be too much moving to another division, but I’m looking for challengers. I keep looking to make history. That’s how I would characterize myself as the kind of fighter that tries to make history.

Q. I saw a video recently of you speaking with Ryan García, and it was really fun to see you doing something outside of your norm and you guys joking around. I wanted to know, do you think at this point in your career you are that crossover star that you want to be, and if you don’t, what do you think that you need to do to become that crossover star? Do you think that you have to change your personality? What are your thoughts on that and your appeal to the world and sporting universe?

CANELO ALVAREZ: My only advice would be to tell him to focus well on what you do, to be 100 percent dedicated. Don’t get off track. Keep in mind where you are and where you want to go. More than that, that’s the advice that I would tell him.

Q. Canelo, can you describe when you first met Kovalev back in 2013? I believe you were in camp in Big Bear preparing for the Mayweather fight. Did you ever think that you’d be facing him six years later?

CANELO ALVAREZ: I was training for the Mosley fight, if I’m not mistaken, but I would go there to train, and at the same time when I would get there, he would be leaving. We would greet each other. There was nothing in particular special, but that’s where we met, and that’s where we got to know each other. He was a four- to six-round fighter then, and then we saw that he was moving up. He was going to become champion, and we as a team really liked that, to see someone who was fighting at the four- to six-round level become the world champion. I mean, and one of the best, as well. So we really liked that as a team.

Q. Right now there’s no limits in your career. You’ve been keeping up with the challenges, starting at super welterweight, then the middleweight and beyond. Is there any peak or limit to you? Are you seeing the limits now, and what are the other challenges that you want to face?

CANELO ALVAREZ: The truth is no. For us there are no limits. We want to make history. We want to keep advancing. So there are no limits for us. We’re in a good moment in my career, so we have to take advantage of that.

Q. I wondered if you saw Triple G’s very tough fight that he had with Derevyanchenko this past Saturday night, and if so, what was your take on that performance?

CANELO ALVAREZ: We saw it. Obviously for me — Derevyanchenko won the fight. It was a fight where he really looked well. It was his fight. Regarding Triple G, we all know, everyone knows, it’s unnecessary to say more, but he looked slow, and I think I gave everyone the pathway to see how to hurt him, which is the body, and that’s what we saw.

Q. When the third fight between yourself and Triple G did not get made, you had said on multiple occasions that you felt like if he has a title I would fight him, but until he has a title I’m not going to fight him. You stuck to that; you’re obviously fighting Sergey Kovalev. Now Triple G has another middleweight title belt, and whatever happens November 2, you’re still going to be middleweight champion. He has the title now. Do you think that fight will happen in the future, the third fight? A lot of people want to see it.

CANELO ALVAREZ: Like I said before, and I’m going to repeat it again. I said it before the fight, and I’m going to repeat it. For me that fight presents no challenge to me right now. We fought two times, 24 rounds. I beat him, so he represents no challenge. However, what he does represent is some good business, so if they offer me something really good, maybe the third fight can happen. But for me, no, because he represents no challenge for me.

Q. Also, Canelo, were you at all disappointed that you watched as they fought for the IBF title that ultimately was stripped from you because you and your team for whatever reasons were unable to complete the deal with Derevyanchenko who was the mandatory challenger so they basically were fighting for your belt? Was there any kind of sadness in that situation that they have your belt now?

CANELO ALVAREZ: Yeah, that was it. That was the fight, but I didn’t think that. What happened is what happened. Unfortunately they took the title, but that’s what happened.

Q. One other question as it relates to the question you’re going to have with Sergey. One of the things about Sergey Kovalev that seems to be quite obvious is that it was apparent in his loss to Andre Ward, it seemed apparent in the fight against Yarde, he doesn’t take body shots all that well. That’s just being real. Canelo Alvarez is a fantastic body puncher. Is it fair to say that when you look at the video, you and Eddy and everybody and Chepo and do the strategy that you’re going to be in there trying to bang that body as much as possible? I don’t think you’d be giving away any secrets if you said that was the case.

CANELO ALVAREZ: Without a doubt. It’s one of the most important punches for any fighter, and not just in this fight, in all fights. But of course even more so with this fighter because that’s a weak point that he has, so we’re going to try to penetrate with the impact to the body.

Q. Canelo, I know you already explained in depth the steps you’ve taken to properly make 175. Is there anything about this training camp that was different or that you learned from when you fought Rocky Fielding and moving up in weight for that fight?

CANELO ALVAREZ: No, obviously this is a very different fight than the one against Fielding. He’s 175 pounds, which is heavier. It’s in a different division, and we know the challenge that we have in front of us, but we’re ready for it.

Q. You take a lot of pride in fighting on the Mexican holidays. You didn’t get to fight on Mexican Independence Day. I wanted to know if there’s going to be any type of a theme for fighting on Di­a de los Muertos.

CANELO ALVAREZ: Obviously I’m going to fight, but on the Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, we’re going to be having a fight, and I plan to give a great fight to the ones who have left us, for family members who are no longer with us. It’s something that we really celebrate in Mexico.

Q. Because they’ve taken so long to get the Kovalev fight signed, there was a lot of reporting that said that DAZN really wanted the Gennady Golovkin fight and still wants it. I wondered if you felt pressure from DAZN during negotiations or if you think they should even have a say in your upcoming opponents. What are your thoughts on that?

CANELO ALVAREZ: More than any pressure, what was happening is the fight was getting complicated because there were other interests involved, but pressure on me, no. I always know what I want, and what I want is what I’m doing now. They may have wanted the Triple G fight, but as I said before, he represents no challenge for me, so I didn’t feel any pressure.

Q. The week after you fight Kovalev there’s a YouTube star fight, Logan Paul versus KSI. I wondered what you thought about that fight and a couple of amateurs fighting on a big — fighting in Staples Center that will sell out, probably, and hundreds of thousands will tune into. I wondered if that kind of fight was good for boxing or if it was just kind of silly, or just what you were thinking?

CANELO ALVAREZ: The truth is I have no opinion. I don’t even know the people which you speak of, so I have nothing bad to opine about this. The sun rises for everyone.

Q. I’ve heard from Eddy Reynoso that you’ve been training with bigger, stronger fighters. Have you noticed anything different in the strength of their punches compared to when you were training to fight 160 pounders, and is there any boxer that you admired when you were growing up who also moved up in divisions, who may have inspired you?

CANELO ALVAREZ: It’s normal. It’s normal for you to feel that when you’re sparring with bigger people. It’s logical. But we have felt really well, training and sparring with my sparring partners, and I really appreciate that because they’re helping me train, but it’s just a matter of getting used to it.

Sugar Ray Leonard, obviously, is one of the ones who I remembered who mostly moved up in divisions. I saw videos of him, watched the fights so that I could learn.

Q. You’re about less than a month away from making history. I wanted to know if this is something you visualized from when you were a young boy to be doing this.

CANELO ALVAREZ: I always imagined the magnitude of what I could accomplish so fast, and then I discovered more things. I learned more things, and I learned that there are even more things ahead of me that I can keep making history, and that’s what motivates me to keep going, keep making history.

Q. You clearly want to get the bigger challenges, the biggest names that you can. You explained that Triple G isn’t really a challenge at this point, but somebody that is a challenge is Demetrius Andrade. He’s obviously not the biggest name out there, but he probably presents the biggest challenge for you at middleweight. I don’t want to ask if you want to fight him, but is it more so attractive for you to fight guys who have bigger names as far as like a Triple G and a Kovalev as opposed to Andrade, even though Andrade might be the biggest challenge, that you would rather face the bigger names?

CANELO ALVAREZ: The truth is he hasn’t fought with anyone, hasn’t fought against anyone, and he’s also boring, very boring. Maybe he’s a good fighter, but he’s a boring fighter, and at the end of the day, when there’s a boring fight, people are going to blame me. I like fights where there’s action, where people can enjoy a good show. That’s very important for me. But also he doesn’t represent a challenge for me, as well, because he hasn’t fought against anybody.

Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN. The title clash is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kovalev are on sale and are priced at $1,754, $1,254, $854, $654, $404 and $204, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.axs.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.MainEvents.com
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