CANELO ÁLVAREZ AND JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. HOST LOS ANGELES FAN FIESTA AT PLAZA MEXICO IN FINAL STOP ON INTERNATIONAL PRESS TOUR
CANELO ÁLVAREZ TO BATTLE JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. SATURDAY, MAY 6 ON CINCO DE MAYO WEEKEND FROM T-MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 24, 2017) Two-division world champion Canelo Álvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) and former WBC World Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) today hosted a fan fiesta to a crowd of over 5,000 cheering fans at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood, CA, the final stop on their four-city international press tour.
Canelo and Chávez, Jr. with their teams also hosted a Q & A session moderated by ESPN commentator Bernardo Osuna, as well as questions from the fans in attendance to their favorite Mexican fighters.
Canelo and Chávez, Jr. will meet on Cinco de Mayo weekend, Saturday, May 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Below are what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s fan fiesta and Q & A session in Los Angeles:
CANELO ÁLVAREZ, Former Two-Division World Champion:
“This is a brand new weight for me, but my team and I are going to work hard to get prepared and do everything necessary to win on May 6th.
“The rivalry has always been there between Julio César Chávez, Jr. and I, but obviously during this tour there were a lot of things said behind the cameras that made it even more intense. We’re going to work really hard to give everyone a great fight.
“You haven’t seen the best of me. Every fight I keep getting better, and I hope this one brings out the best in me.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again–Julio César Chávez, Sr. is one of the best, if not the best fighter in history. I grew up watching him and learned a lot from him, but that won’t have any influence when I fight his son.
“Every fight I have in front of me is a very important fight, and this fight is no different to my legacy.
“We are here now, and I’m very excited and happy to give the fans a great fight from this rivalry.”
JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR., Former WBC World Middleweight Champion:
“I’m very focused on this fight because it is a great opportunity for my career. I feel great to be involved in this event and show the world I can beat anybody.
“This fight is special and has motivated me to train hard. On May 6, I will be 100 percent.
“My father’s name will always be with me for what he accomplished in the ring, but when I fight Canelo on May 6 th, you can expect a guaranteed war.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“I see the excitement from the fans all over for this fight. The reason we chose this fight is because boxing needs it and the fans will see a great fight. Canelo is a warrior and Chávez, Jr. is a warrior. All eyes are going to be on Canelo and Chávez, Jr. on Cinco de Mayo weekend and Mexican boxing will once again be on top.
“This is a totally new fight for Canelo. He is always in great shape and is a disciplined fighter, but he has never faced Chávez, Jr. This fight has the ingredients to be a war. I call it a civil war because both fighters are Mexican.
JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, SR., Former WBC World Middleweight Champion:
“I want to thank everyone who is here, and tell everyone that this fight is for you. Everyone will see a grand, grand fight–and the one who will win is the one with the bigger cajones!
“This fight means a lot, especially for Julio. We all know what Canelo represents in the world of boxing today. We expect a very difficult fight. Canelo has always been the stronger fighter inside the ring, but this time we things are going to be a lot different because he’s fighting at a new weight. We don’t know how he will look.”
EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer for Canelo Álvarez:
“It’s very easy to get heated during press conferences, but when Canelo steps in the ring, he is one of the coldest fighters with the hottest heart, and come fight night, you will see that.”
JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, Manager and Co-Trainer for Canelo Álvarez:
“I think that at this new weight, Canelo is going to come in even stronger and faster, and in great condition. That’s what we’re going to work for, and on May 6th when he wins this fight–we will all yell together, ‘Viva Mexico!’
Photo Credit: Tom Hogan /Golden Boy Promotions
