LAS VEGAS (Nov. 19, 2015) – The Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) and former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) completed their final press conference yesterday at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas ahead of their Nov. 21 world championship showdown, which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Cotto vs. Canelo is shaping up to be the biggest fight in boxing this year and the biggest fight in the history of the famed Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry. Below is what the fighters, trainers and dais guests had to say at today’s final main event press conference:
MIGUEL COTTO, The Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion:
“We are hours away from the fight. We had a great training camp in Los Angeles for several weeks. All I have to say is that I am ready for the fight. I know that Canelo is ready too. Let’s give the fans the fight they need from us.
“Freddie brings his best to every day and every session. The least I can do is bring my best too. I think the chemistry between us grows every day.
“We are going to apply our strategy in the best way possible. And I have no doubt that what we worked on in LA for seven weeks is going to be the key for a victory.
“I don’t need a belt to fight Canelo.”
CANELO ÁLVAREZ, Former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion:
“Thank you all for the support you’ve given me and this great event. Also, the reception that each and every one of you have given to me, I’m very grateful. I’ve had a great preparation. I’ve worked very hard. I am patiently waiting for Saturday night to have my hand raised in victory once again. It’s going to be a difficult fight, I know that, but that is why I prepared properly, and I am ready to give a great fight.”
FREDDIE ROACH, International Boxing Hall of Famer & Seven-Time BWAA Trainer of the Year Award Winner, Miguel Cotto Trainer:
“Miguel has a great training camp for this fight. We’re 100% ready for this fight, the biggest fight of the year. I’ve never seen Miguel better than this.
“Miguel is stronger. His condition is great. We had about 6-7 sparring partners for this fight. And we’re headed into our last workout today.
“I would love for Miguel to win this fight by knockout, call out Mayweather and then end his career. Miguel always tells me that if he had me in his corner when he fought Mayweather he would have knocked him out. He tells me that story all the time. I think Miguel could pull off the strategy I have to beat Mayweather. I think that would be a good fight for him. I think I could put Miguel in a very aggressive mode.
“We are going to box a lot in this fight. We’re not just going out there looking for a knockout. I don’t want him doing that. I want him using his foot speed and his angles. He’s a more complete fighter now than ever.
“Canelo’s defense is terrible. He follows you wherever you go. He’s like a robot. If you use angles on him, he will be lost. He cannot make adjustment well.
“We need a fight like this. It’s great for the sport.
EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer for Canelo Álvarez:
“We are prepared to win our second WBC title on Nov. 21.”
CHEPO REYNOSO, Manager and Trainer for Canelo Álvarez:
“On the Canelo team we have a saying that, ‘what you do right cannot have a bad outcome.’ We worked very hard with 14 weeks of camp and not one day was without hard work and enthusiasm. We will see Canelo’s hand raised in victory on Nov. 21. After 14 weeks of hard work, we see him just days away with the same enthusiasm to be the champion, to be one of the best. Another saying we have on our team is, ‘the fight is won in the gym. In the ring, they just raise your hand.”
MICHAEL YORMARK, President & Chief of Branding and Strategy Roc Nation:
“The great Sugar Ray Robinson once said “rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that’s in rhythm or you’re in trouble.”
When you think about these two great champions that sit before you – Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez – I think it is fair to say that everything they do comes from their heart. Because when they step into that ring on Saturday night, under the lights of the Mandalay Bay Events Center and HBO Pay-Per-View, not only will they be fighting for themselves and their own glory, but also for the pride and glory of their family, their fans, and their country.
“There are over a million compliments I could pay the champ, Miguel Cotto.But one thing I can tell you is when I visited him in training camp, I walked away literally exhausted by his effort, his passion and his commitment – I came away feeling bad for Canelo. It is clear that Miguel Cotto fights for a purpose well beyond himself. He fights for family and he fights for country. He knows the history of the Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry, he knows that Puerto Rico currently holds the advantage, and he fully intends to extend that advantage on Saturday night.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico. Puncher vs. puncher. Younger lion against….older lion. This fight has all the makings of an instant classic for the Lineal Middleweight World Championship. And, at least for Canelo, the WBC world championship.
“For Latinos all over the world, this is our Super Bowl. This is an event that not one Hispanic, not one Latino is going to miss. That is how important this event is to us. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is like no other event for those countries. This is like our Super Bowl, that’s how important this event is.”
HECTOR SOTO, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions:
“This Saturday, all of us will witness probably the best fight in the last 10 years. For the last eight weeks, Miguel Cotto has trained very hard to get ready for this fight. Thank you everybody for your support and we will see you Saturday night.”
MAURICIO SULAIMAN, President of the WBC:
“I am proud to celebrate this highly anticipated match between two icons representing their countries, their legacy and their pride.”
RICHARD STURM, President of Spoorts and Entertainment, MGM Resorts International:
“We are excited to host the clash of two champions who will bring a high level of intensity this Saturday night. They will provide fans with an exciting evening of world class boxing. Thanks to Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, HBO, and Bob Bennet at the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Thanks to all for one of the greatest fights of the year.”
MARK TAFFET, Senior Vice President of HBO Sports Operations:
“This is an outstanding week and one we will remember forever. It’s exciting to be working as a fan on one of the most special events of boxing this year. Cotto-Canelo features the biggest stars in one of the biggest fights of the year.
“Earlier this year HBO was proud to feature events with both Cotto and Canelo. In May Canelo’s fight on HBO World Championship Boxing generated 2.1 million viewers and in June, Miguel generated 1.6 million views also on HBO World Championship Boxing. We can’t wait to bring this fight to all of their fans who tuned in earlier this year. We know that they carry their respective nations on their backs and we know that Cotto vs. Canelo will likely be a fight that will talked about for years to come.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner:
“In any sport, you want to be the best and say you are the best but few prove it. Thanks to Cotto, thanks to Canelo for giving us this mega fight. This fight is why boxing hasn’t been forgotten and never will.”
Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for the Lineal Middleweight World Championship, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). Also on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Miura vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round co-featured fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions; Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Drian Francisco in a 10-round super bantamweight bout presented in association with Caribe Promotions; and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight bout which will open the Pay-Per-View telecast. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins, a 12-round fight for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship, is presented in association with Bristol Boxing Ltd. and will be featured as part of the preliminary undercards available on digital platforms starting at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.
In addition to the great action inside the ring, the event will feature a special live performance by 2015 Latin Grammy nominee Yandel. The performance will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View after the second fight of the pay-per-view telecast.
A limited number of tickets priced at $2,000, $1,750, $1,250 and $650, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com, mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.
Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo at select MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices, http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.
Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez will be presented live with Fathom Events in select theaters nationwide. Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit www.fathomevents.com/event/cotto-vs-canelo-live.
Sports bars, restaurants, casinos (outside of Clark County, NV) and other commercial establishments can order Cotto vs. Canelo by contacting Joe Hand Promotions at 1-800-557-4263 or visit www.JoeHandPromotions.com. Joe Hand Promotions is the exclusive commercial distributor for Cotto vs. Canelo throughout the United States and Canada.
For more information, visit www.rocnation.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.mandalaybay.com; follow on Twitter at @RocNation, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @RealMiguelCotto, @Canelo, @HBOBoxing, and @MandalayBay; become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/RocNation, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/RealMiguelACotto, www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/MandalayBay; and follow on Instagram @rocnation, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @realmiguelacotto, @Canelo, @HBOboxing and @MandalayBay. Follow the conversation using #CottoCanelo.
