JESUS RAMOS JR. UPPING TRAINING CAMP INTENSITY AHEAD OF PIVOTAL CLASH AGAINST ERICKSON LUBIN

CASA GRANDE, AZ. – September 7, 2023 – Undefeated super welterweight sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. discussed the increased intensity in his training camp and much more as he looks to earn a world title shot with a victory over top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin on Saturday, September 30 in the SHOWTIME PPV co-main event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

“This camp has been more intense than my previous camps,” said Ramos (20-0, 16 KOs), who is trained by his father Jesus Ramos Sr. at the Ramos Boxing Academy in Casa Grande, AZ. “My strength and conditioning coach Jamie Belt has really stepped it up. We’re going through it and I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life right now. That’s what we have to do to be better each time we step into the ring.”

The 22-year-old had previously been slated to compete on the July 30 Spence vs. Crawford SHOWTIME PPV undercard, but was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury that Ramos says has since healed.

“I’m feeling good, I just needed to let my hand heal,” said Ramos. “I’ve been sparring and everything has been going great. I’ve had no pain whatsoever and I’m happy about it.”

Ramos most recently dominated the previously unbeaten Joey Spencer in March, stopping the fellow rising 154-pound contender in round seven. With wins already against Interim WBC Super Welterweight Champion Brian Mendoza and veteran contenders Vladimir Hernandez and Luke Santamaria, Ramos believes that a statement victory over Lubin will land him the world title shot he covets.

“I think a win does show that I’m ready for a title shot,” said Ramos. “A win over Erickson Lubin, plus my previous wins, shows what level I’m on. It’s a huge statement, especially if I look impressive. If I’m able to dominate him, it shows that I’m on a different level.”

The 27-year-old Lubin will step into the ring with his own motivation and a proven ability to turn a contest into a toe-to-toe clash. His only defeats came first in 2017 in a loss to Jermell Charlo, and in 2022 as he was defeated by Sebastian Fundora in one of the year’s best fights, one in which Lubin had led on the scorecards at the time the fight ended. For Ramos, he thinks highly of Lubin’s resume and has had a fight against him on his mind before it was ever offered.

“Lubin is a great fighter and he’s really a warrior,” said Ramos. “He’ll fight anybody and he doesn’t back down from a fight. We saw it against Fundora. Things got tough and he was still fighting back. Facing him was actually something we’ve talked about, even after the injury. Me and my dad talked about possibly facing him on this card when it was announced, so it was really the law of attraction that made it happen.”

As a rising Mexican-American star, Ramos has relished in the upcoming opportunity to compete as the co-main event to a Canelo Álvarez topped event. Having watched Canelo for years before embarking on his own pro career, Ramos is excited to show the many fans tuning in what he’s capable of.

“I remember when Canelo was the co-main event for Floyd Mayweather, we would always watch him, so now to be his co-main event is huge for me,” said Ramos. “I’m embracing every second of it. Fans are going to see the best version of Jesus Ramos on September 30. This has been a strong training camp and it’s going to reflect in the ring on fight night.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

# # #

ABOUT CANELO VS. CHARLO

Canelo vs. Charlo will see pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles in a blockbuster showdown against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see undefeated sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. take on hard-hitting top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in the 12-round super welterweight co-main event. The pay-per-view also includes former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios going toe-to-toe for the Interim WBC Welterweight Title. Opening up the action are rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz squaring off in a 10-round attraction.

For more information visit sho.com/ppv and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloCharlo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/.

VIRTUAL TRAINER’S MEDIA ROUNDTABLE QUOTES FEATURING RONNIE SHIELDS, BOB SANTOS, CALVIN FORD AND ROBERT GARCIA PREVIEWING CANELO VS. CHARLO

LAS VEGAS – September 6, 2023 – Four of the top trainers in the sport, Ronnie Shields, Bob Santos, Calvin Ford and Robert Garcia, offered their insights and analysis of the upcoming historic showdown between Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion Canelo Álvarez and Undisputed Junior Middleweight World Champion Jermell Charlo during a virtual media roundtable on Wednesday.

Canelo vs. Charlo headlines a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

Here is what the trainers had to say Wednesday, including their predictions for the super fight:

RONNIE SHIELDS, Trainer of Jermall Charlo, former Trainer of Jermell Charlo, Erislandy Lara and more

“This is a big opportunity for Jermell and one that I know he’s not gonna take lightly, He’s gonna do everything in his power to come out victorious. That’s what he does. He wants to be the best, all the time.

“From his last two showings, Canelo has said he has injuries. Now he wants to prove that he hasn’t lost a step. He’s a competitor. He wants his people to stay behind him, so I think he actually comes into the fight in the best shape he’s been in in a long time.

Charlo is one of the few fighters who holds his power throughout the whole fight. You don’t get too many of those, but Canelo is also able to do that. It really makes this a great fight.

“Charlo has to make sure he wins rounds convincingly. You won’t win close rounds against Canelo. You have to keep pushing. Canelo has great defense, so Charlo has to be in great shape and push from beginning to end.

“You don’t see a lot of fighters go to Canelo’s body, because it’s hard to get close enough to do it. He’ll have to come up with a scheme to get into that position.

“I think Jermell Charlo wins this fight by split-decision.”

BOB SANTOS, 2022 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year, Trainer of Mario Barrios, Hector Luis Garcia and more

“This is gonna be a very competitive fight. People are talking about Canelo being the bigger guy but I’ve been around both fighters quite a bit and I think people are missing that Charlo is a big guy. He might be naturally the bigger guy. Canelo has built his body up over time.

“It’s gonna come down to who wants it more and who can implement their game plan. I think Canelo is more comfortable in these kinds of fights, but I know that Charlo won’t have a problem with the size.

“I think Canelo has a chip on his shoulder. I take the John Ryder fight with a grain of salt, because no matter what guys say, it’s hard to get motivated sometimes when you’re not fighting elite guys. When you fight elite guys, you know your career is on the line. Canelo knows what kind of dangerous opponent Jermell Charlo is. I’m expecting the best Canelo for this fight.

“I think somebody is getting stopped. I’m not gonna say who, but I think it’ll come down to whoever capitalizes on the mistakes that their opponent makes.

“I could see either guy capitalizing in this fight. It wouldn’t surprise me if either guy stopped the other. I think Canelo probably wins, but I like how Charlo punches short and direct. I could see him catching Canelo with some of those straight shots.

“I won’t be surprised if Charlo wins, but I’m 55-45 leaning towards Canelo. I really think somebody is getting knocked out.”

CALVIN FORD, Trainer for Five-Time World Champion Gervonta Davis

“Canelo is changing up some things and going back to what got him here. For Charlo, this is a fight that he’s been asking for. He’s very motivated and that mentality will be important in this fight.

“Both guys have chips on their shoulders. Charlo knows the statement he can make with a win. Canelo is on the throne right now, and he doesn’t wanna get knocked off. These guys can both punch. We’ll see who executes their game plan. This fight could be a real roller coaster ride.

“Charlo has nothing to lose. If he goes in there with that attitude, then he can be victorious. Canelo is that guy right now and he’s changed his camp, so I know he’s taking this fight really seriously.

“Canelo’s defense is strong, so Charlo really needs to stay on him. Somebody has to take a chance, and that’s where we’ll see the knockout.

“Somebody is going to sleep. I don’t know which one, but someone is going to sleep.”

ROBERT GARCIA, 2011 Ring Magazine and 2012 BWAA Trainer of the Year, former Trainer of Mikey Garcia, Abner Mares and more

“I can’t wait for this fight. It’s gonna be one of those challenges that Canelo will need to be in top shape for. The size won’t matter. I’m pretty sure when it comes to fight night, they’ll be around the same weight. It’s gonna be very competitive and I can’t wait.

“Everyone says that Canelo is one of the hardest working fighters they’ve ever seen. But Canelo hasn’t looked that good his last couple of fights. That is a reason to give Charlo a really good chance. Charlo is not gonna hold back.

“You can train to the best of your abilities, but sometimes your body just doesn’t respond as well. Canelo may be training as hard as ever, but he’s had 18 years as a professional fighter. I still pick him to win the fight, but I don’t think it’s gonna be easy.

“Boxing needs these kinds of fights and I’m so glad we’ve had a lot of them recently. It’s been such a great year and it’s just getting better and better.

“If Charlo wins this fight, I think he’d be number two pound-for-pound after Terence Crawford. I think it’s that big of a fight.

“This is a tough one to pick. If Canelo wins by knockout, I think it’s under eight rounds. Late rounds is where Charlo could actually stop Canelo. If it goes the distance, I think Canelo edges a decision.”

# # #

ABOUT CANELO VS. CHARLO

VIDEO: Canelo vs. Charlo: Undercard Press Conference | September 30th on SHOWTIME PPV

CANELO VS. CHARLO SHOWTIME PPV® UNDERCARD LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LOS ANGELES – August 29, 2023 – Fighters competing on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo SHOWTIME PPV undercard went face-to-face Tuesday during a Los Angeles press conference ahead of their respective showdowns taking place Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

The press conference featured unbeaten rising sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin, who compete in the super welterweight co-main event, former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, who square off for the Interim WBC Welterweight title, and rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz, who duel in the telecast opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday from The Conga Room at L.A. Live:

JESUS RAMOS JR.

“I was excited when I heard I was gonna fight Lubin. I respect what he’s done as a fighter. He built himself back up after the Jermell Charlo fight and showed he’s a warrior.

“This is what I’m here for. I’m here to prove I’m one of the best and to do that I have to beat the best. It was an exciting moment when I was able to sign on for this fight.

“People didn’t really know what level I was on before the Joey Spencer fight. I had to show that I was on a different level and that I deserve to be on a stage like this.

“Hopefully with a win people will say I’m at the top of the division. That’s not up to me though. I just have to keep winning and proving myself. The main thing is to keep growing as a fighter. I’m gonna take a lot from this fight and have a lot more experience. I’m gonna be a different boxer after this and I’ll be ready for that title shot when it comes.

“I have good power, but I’m not relying on it. I have skills too and I’m gonna show them on September 30. I’m an intelligent fighter and everyone is gonna see that with a worthy opponent like Lubin across from me.

“I’ve faced tough guys like Brian Mendoza and Vladimir Hernandez, but Lubin looks like he’d be the toughest so far. He’s right up there because he’s got a lot of experience and we respect what he can do.

“I do feel like I’m the fresher fighter, but it’s not something I’m banking on. We’re working hard to be at my very best. He’s been in some wars, so we’ll see if he’s got wear and tear from it.

“Whatever I have to do to win, I’m ready for. I’m here to dominate. I want to make a statement, and in order to do that, I have to dominate. That’s the plan.”

ERICKSON LUBIN

“The mindset hasn’t changed for me. I still have a chip on my shoulder. I’m going into this fight very hungry. I have a young, hungry kid in front of me, but I’m young and hungry as well. You can expect fireworks on September 30. I’m looking to win and be in the big fights against the best guys in the division.

“I’m fueled by adversity. My first title challenge against Charlo brought me back to working real hard and eventually winning six fights in a row. I was winning the fight against Sebastian Fundora and losing fueled me to go back to the drawing board and work even harder.

“Ramos is a real solid fighter. I watched his last fight and I thought he looked good. But I’m not Joey Spencer. I’m one of those top guys in the division. I’m the cream of the crop and I’m here to prove myself. I want the toughest test every time out.

“I’ve asked for this fight even before he fought Joey Spencer. Now we have the platform and we’re here. It’s gonna be fireworks on September 30.

“This win solidifies that I belong at the top. It shows that I need a title shot. The winner of this fight will definitely get a big fight.

“The Luis Arias fight was a good comeback fight. I knew that with the way we trained, I was gonna dominate. That was eight weeks ago and now I’m happy we have only a few weeks to go for this one. I’m coming for another statement win.

“I’m definitely not downplaying Ramos, but I was 22-years-old like him and I took a step up in competition against a 27-year-old and fell short. I think history repeats itself, but in my favor.

“I’m looking for a one-sided ass-whooping. I want to go in there and come out with the victory, untouched.”

YORDENIS UGAS

“The most important thing right now is not what people might be saying, it’s that I’m healthy and happy. I’m preparing the right way for a great fight against Barrios. I don’t care about anything else.

“Barrios is a strong fighter, a tough fighter and a former world champion. I’m motivated to face an opponent of his caliber.

“There’s a lot at stake in this fight, but this is what I do. I go out and fight the best. I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity.

“I thought I fought well against Errol Spence Jr. and I walked away from the fight knowing I can compete against the best. I want to prove that I’m one of the best welterweights in the world.

“I promise that the fans are gonna see another exciting fight on September 30. This is another chance for me to challenge the best. Win or lose, I always push forward, and that’s what you’ll see on September 30.”

MARIO BARRIOS

“Whenever a fight is brought to me, there’s never a name that I say no to. This was no different. Ugas is a tremendous fighter and this is a huge opportunity. I was more than happy to take the fight.

“I’m trying to solidify my mark in this division. It’s gonna be a tough fight on September 30. I’ve never seen him shy away from a fight and I have a similar style. This is gonna be an explosive one that you don’t want to miss.

“We’re both gonna bring it on fight night. This is an exciting card and an exciting opportunity to fight for an interim world title.

“I’m expecting the best version of Ugas. We both have a lot to prove. A victory puts us right up there with all of the top welterweights. There’s a lot of good fights to be made and we’re all working to get to the top of the division.

“I was learning with each fight and took a lot away from my defeats. I’m still just as hungry as ever. I had my comeback fight in February in San Antonio and now I’m looking to bring another title back home.

“It’s gonna take everything to get this win. I’m gonna have to use my boxing ability, my power and my range. It’s gonna be an exciting fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

ELIJAH GARCIA

“I’m blessed to be on this card. I know that on September 30 I’m gonna have the toughest fight of my career so far. Reséndiz comes strong, in shape and ready to fight.

“I’m honored to be on a card with so many other great fighters. I’m preparing to be a world champion and these tough fights are what will get me ready for that.

“This has been the best year of my career. I had a big upset early in the year and then got a hard 10-round victory. Now I’m in back-to-back pay-per-view events. It’s like a snap of the finger and I’m blowing up. I’m just training hard and preparing for a tough fight.

“I want to be a world champion at 21 years old. Fighting tough opponents like Armando will get me ready for when that opportunity comes. I know how hard it’s gonna be, but that’s the way I have to go.

“Armando is coming off a huge win and he’s young and strong. I don’t see why this fight wouldn’t be a step up for me. I’m ready for it.

“I’m just staying humble and keeping my faith strong. I don’t want to look ahead and take too big of a leap. I’m following the direction that my team is telling me to go.”

ARMANDO RESENDIZ

“I expect a tough fight and I’ve trained for that. I hope that this is a fight that the fans will love. I want everyone to tune in and enjoy the action.

“I think that I have experience on my side, but age doesn’t matter too much. When I was younger, I fought older fighters as well. How you prepare is what really matters and I think we’re both going to prepare in the right way.

“I showed how hungry I was when I beat Jarrett Hurd. I have big goals in the sport. I want to be a main event staple and that was a big step toward that.

“I’m really excited to have Manny Robles in my corner. We mesh really well. You’re going to see more of that in this fight. We train hard and it’s reflected inside of the ring.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“What a night this is going to be. This is a massive event. Canelo vs. Charlo, undisputed vs undisputed. With a fight of this magnitude, we had to deliver a stacked undercard.

“These three matchups have everything boxing fans could hope for or count on for a pay-per-view undercard. Each fighter here has a chance to catapult themselves to the top of their division with a win on September 30.

“All of these fights have the possibility of being a flat-out war and could steal the show. These are three quality, competitive and high-stakes fights.”

# # #

ABOUT CANELO VS. CHARLO

RISING STARS AND TOP CONTENDERS SET FOR HIGH-STAKES MATCHUPS ON STACKED CANELO VS. CHARLO SHOWTIME PPV® UNDERCARD SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

LAS VEGAS – August 25, 2023 – Three matchups featuring rising stars, top contenders and former world champions from 147 to 160 pounds will highlight a robust pay-per-view undercard leading up to the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo undisputed super middleweight championship clash on Saturday, September 30 live on SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

In the co-main event, undefeated sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr.,will take on hard-hitting top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in a 12-round super welterweight special attraction. The pay-per-view also includes former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios going toe-to-toefor the Interim WBC Welterweight Title. Opening up the action at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT are rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz squaring off in a 10-round attraction.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

“These three matchups deliver everything boxing fans could hope for in a pay-per-view undercard and are worthy of the historic main event clash they will lead up to,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Each fighter stepping into the ring has an opportunity to catapult themselves to the top of their respective division with a win on September 30. Fans can expect to see all of these competitors give everything they have to emerge victorious on SHOWTIME PPV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.”

A strong southpaw who at 22 has yet to come close to hitting his ceiling as a fighter, Ramos (20-0, 16 KOs) blitzed then-unbeaten Joey Spencer in March, dropping him in round one before stopping him in round seven to earn the TKO in his sensational 2023 debut on the undercard of David Benavidez vs. Caleb Plant on SHOWTIME PPV. A native of Casa Grande, Ariz., Ramos also owns back-to-back 10-round unanimous decisions over Brian Mendoza and Javier Molina in 2021, which he followed up by defeating Luke Santamaria and Vladimir Hernandez in 2022. Overall, the youthful Ramos has gained recognition with highlight-reel KOs, stopping seven of his last 10 opponents, showcasing his skills and ability to end his fights early.

“I’m excited to be part of this huge card against a tough opponent on September 30,” said Ramos. “I know Lubin is training hard and coming to win, which will make for an entertaining fight. This whole card is stacked and we don’t want to disappoint, so the fans are in for a great night of boxing.”

The 27-year-old Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) returned to the ring in June to deliver an impressive fifth-round stoppage of veteran Luis Arias, who had never been stopped previously. Lubin’s previous outing saw him go toe-to-toe in one of 2022’s best fights, as he traded knockdowns with fellow contender Sebastian Fundora on SHOWTIME in April 2022. Heading into the Fundora fight, Lubin had put together an impressive six-bout winning streak since a loss to then unified and now undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in 2017, a run that included triumphs over Jeison Rosario, Terrell Gausha and Ishe Smith. A native of Orlando, Fla., Lubin turned pro at 18 years old in 2013 and became one of the youngest prospects to ever appear on the developmental series SHOBOX: The New Generation^®,earning “Prospect Of The Year” honors from ESPN and Ring Magazine in 2016.

“I know the world will be watching on September 30 and I plan on winning in a big way,” said Lubin. “We’ve got a young and talented fighter in front of us, but I’m young and talented as well. The difference is that I’ve fought the cream of the crop of the 154-pound division. Doesn’t matter if it’s Olympians, top prospects, contenders or champions, I’ve taken them on. I have a big chip on my shoulder and I know that with this win, I’ll be in a mega fight. I’m training extremely hard and the whole world will see it pay off.”

Ugas (27-5, 12 KOs) will step back into action on September 30 for the first time since an April 2022 unification bout defeat to Errol Spence Jr. on SHOWTIME PPV. He established himself as an elite welterweight after returning from a more than two-year layoff in 2016 following back-to-back losses in 2014. He punched his ticket as a world champion in January 2021 after winning a WBA belt by defeating Abel Ramos in September 2020. He solidified his world-championship status in August 2021, when he stepped in for an injured Spence to defeat legendary future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. Hailing from Santiago, Cuba and now living in Miami, Florida, the Olympic bronze medalist trains in Las Vegas with renowned coach Ismael Salas and owns victories over then undefeated fighters Jamal James, Omar Figueroa Jr. and Bryant Perrella, plus veteran contenders Thomas Dulorme and Ray Robinson.

“Both me and Mario Barrios have a lot to gain with a victory on September 30, so I know that this fight is going to be one to remember,” said Ugas. “I have tremendous respect for Barrios. He’s a true warrior who’s been in the ring with the best of them, but I have confidence that I’ll be victorious. I have a lot of fight left in me and my best skills will be on display in this fight. Patria y Vida, I fight for my people.”

The 28-year-old Barrios (27-2, 18 KOs) most recently scored a sensational knockout of Jovanie Santiago in February stopping Santiago in the eighth-round. Barrios’ previous fight was his welterweight debut as he dropped a hard-fought decision to former unified champion Keith Thurman in February 2022. The San Antonio-product, who now trains with top coach Bob Santos in Las Vegas, became a 140-pound world champion in September 2019, using his aggressive style to edge out Batyr Akhmedov and earn a unanimous decision. Barrios lost the super lightweight title in another action packed, highly competitive bout, as he was defeated by three-division and five-time world champion Gervonta Davis in June 2021.

“This fight is going to be a war, because we both fight with a lot of heart and neither of us ever backs down,” said Barrios. “I can’t wait to compete in a matchup like this on one of the biggest cards of the year. This is going to be a great night of boxing from start to finish and the Mexican fans can expect to see an explosive performance from ‘El Azteca’!”

Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia (15-0, 12 KOs) is one of 2023’s biggest breakout stars He burst onto the scene in March by blasting out the previously unbeaten Amilcar Vidal in the fourth-round to announce his presence at 160-pounds. The 20-year-old followed up that performance by dominating veteran Kevin Salgado on his way to a unanimous decision in April on the SHOWTIME PPV undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia. The precocious Garcia has moved fast since turning pro in 2020 and has knocked out six of his last eight opponents.

“This is my second fight this year on a huge pay-per-view card and I’m super excited and even more prepared than the first time,” said Garcia. “Reséndiz is a hungry fighter just like myself, so I have no doubt that we are going to put on a hell of a show for all the fans watching.”

The 24-year-old Reséndiz (14-1, 10 KOs) earned a career-best victory in his last outing as he stopped former unified champion Jarrett Hurd in the 10^th and final round of their March showdown on SHOWTIME. Reséndiz led on all three cards when the bout was stopped due to a severe laceration on Hurd’s lip. A native of Nayarit, Mexico, he now fights out of Los Angeles and will look to make it three-straight wins since a close decision loss to Marcos Hernandez in September 2021. Reséndiz turned pro in February 2018 and made a successful U.S. debut in April 2021 with a decision victory over Quilisto Madera.

“I’m very happy to have this great opportunity to compete on such an important fight card,” said Reséndiz. “I’m excited to realize my dream of fighting in Las Vegas, just like my boxing idols that I watched on TV. I’ve had an amazing training camp that will help me look my best on September 30 and put on a performance worthy of the boxing legends who inspire me.”

# # #

LEGENDARY BOXING HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER JIM LAMPLEY TO JOIN PPV.COM FOR CANELO VS. CHARLO SEPTEMBER 30 PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT

NEW YORK, NY, AND LOS ANGELES, CA—August 22, 2023—Legendary boxing journalist and blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley will be joining PPV.COM to co-host the service’s Canelo vs. Charlo live viewer chat on Saturday, September 30. In addition, Lampley—who is well known for his long tenure on “HBO World Championship Boxing”—will provide on-site commentary and reports in Las Vegas throughout fight week to generate original video content for PPV.COM’s website and social media platforms.

“Jim Lampley is the most significant voice in boxing. We want to partner with the best people in the sport, and he’s universally respected and loved,” said Dale Hopkins, President & CEO of iNDEMAND and PPV.COM. “What makes this even more special is that our viewers will be able to directly interact with Jim throughout the entire PPV event via our live chat. We’ll be streaming the official broadcast, of course, with our high-quality stream, and on top of that fans can type their questions and comments to Jim in real time, and he’ll be able to respond immediately. And you never need a subscription to watch anything on PPV.COM.”

Lampley noted, “For me, this is a fun opportunity to see my many friends and colleagues in the boxing world, while adding my two cents’ worth to all the action throughout fight week and on fight night itself. What makes it different is that I’ll get to interact directly with fans via an engaging and respectful forum. I’m impressed by what PPV.COM has been able to do in a relatively short period of time since launching less than two years ago.”

Lampley is a recipient of the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Sam Taub Award for Excellece in Broadcasting Journalism, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its 2015 class. He served as anchor and commentator for “HBO World Championship Boxing” for 30 years, and has covered numerous Olympic Games during his long and distinguished career in sports broadcasting. He is currently an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lampley will be co-hosting PPV.COM’s Canelo vs. Charlo live chat alongside another esteemed boxing journalist, Lance Pugmire, the recipient of the BWAA’s 2022 Nat Fleischer Award for Excellence in Boxing Journalism. Pugmire, formerly of the Los Angeles Times, The Athletic, and USA Today, has been serving as PPV.COM’s senior writer, contributing original articles to the website as well as hosting its chats for a number of boxing events. Pugmire will also be contributing original content to PPV.COM for Canelo vs. Charlo.

Hopkins added, “Having Lance and Jim together on our chat is truly a boxing aficionado’s dream team. The combined amount of expertise and perspective they share is unsurpassed, and we’re frankly honored to be able to make this experience available to our customers on PPV.COM.”

PPV.COM will be live-streaming Canelo vs. Charlo in the U.S. and Canada on Saturday, September 30. The audio feed will be available in both English and Spanish. iNDEMAND, the parent company of PPV.COM, will also be carrying the event through its network of cable and telco operators in the U.S. and Canada via providers including: Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Optimum, Fios, and others in the U.S.; and Rogers, Bell, Shaw, SaskTel and TELUS in Canada.

About iNDEMAND and PPV.COM

iNDEMAND is an innovative partnership among three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.—Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDEMAND is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDEMAND delivers great content to more than 80 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 150 companies. In December 2021, iNDEMAND launched PPV.COM, an innovative streaming PPV service and the first of its kind to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports. With the addition of PPV.COM to its existing cable PPV infrastructure, iNDEMAND has consolidated all forms of PPV distribution under one roof, making the company the only provider of turn-key PPV solutions for both industry partners and consumers. For more information, go to indemand.com.

Canelo switches up, agrees with his critics

By Norm Frauenheim –

Canelo Alvarez has always had a testy relationship with critics. The super-middleweight champion, who has a mean counter in the ring, is quick to angrily counter anyone who delivers a pointed question at a news conference.

But criticism can be an ally. It’s beginning to sound as if Canelo has realized that much in the face of questions about an evident decline in his rich career.

Yes, he hasn’t been at his best, he said in Beverly Hills CA Wednesday in the second coast-to-coast news conference this week.

“We’ll see if it’s true that I’ve lost a step,’’ Canelo said twenty-four hours after a newser in New York. “We’ll see. I understand what the people said, and I agree.

“I didn’t look my best in my last two fights, but I know why and I’m ready for this fight. We’ll see what happens. We’re going to see something different.’’

Something different might actually mean somebody familiar. For about a year-and-a half, the punishing domination that defined Canelo hasn’t been there.

It was gone in sluggish performances in victories over Gennadiy Golovkin in a third fight and then a so-called tune-up against John Ryder.

It’s a decline that began with a scorecard loss to light-heavyweight champion to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022.

It’s easy to over-analyze anything said or done at a boxing news conference. But Canelo’s surprising acknowledgement is sign that he’s taken a hard look at himself. To wit: Decline is hard to reverse if self-denial stands in the way.

The real genesis of Canelo’s brilliant career happened because of a scorecard loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013.

It was a majority decision. Truth is, it was a one-sided loss, a majority embarrassment. Canelo heard the criticism, especially from his Mexican fans.

He sifted through that defeat for the lessons it left. He then went back to work, transforming himself into the pound-for-pound, pay-per-view star who – from this corner – was at his dominant best in an 11^th-round stoppage of former light-heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev in November 2019.

There’s been a lot of money and public adulation ever since. Through it all, an increasingly-insulated Canelo grew increasingly-impatient with criticism.

Through it all, he also might have suffered an inevitable erosion in his physical reflexes. Endurance has become a huge issue.

He tires in the later rounds, a problem that could be a critical factor against Charlo, a junior-middleweight champion who looked like the bigger man in face-off photos from Beverly Hills and New York.

That evident fatigue is a reason, perhaps, that Canelo continues to sidestep calls for him to fight David Benavidez. As of Thursday, the Phoenix-born super-middleweight was still in negotiations for a fight later this year with unbeaten Demetrius Andrade, a 35-year-old lefthander.

Benavidez is reportedly still in play for a shot at Canelo, if both win. Benavidez is a PBC fighter. Canelo’s fight with Charlo is the first in a three-fight deal with PBC. The deal can be done. But it’s still not clear whether Canelo wants a fight that fans have been demanding for at least a couple of years.

It depends on Charlo. Does Canelo beat him? If he does, how does he perform? If fatigue continues to be an issue, Benavidez could be a big problem.

There are moments when Benavidez looks to be inexhaustible. His energy appears to be at its highest in the later rounds. Think of a snowball going down a steep hill. It only gains momentum and usually ends in a dangerous avalanche that buries anything, anyone in its way.

In this week’s newsers, Charlo said something that could have been said by Benavidez

“My whole career has kind of been all about chasing Canelo,’’ Charlo said.

For Benavidez, that chase might be getting closer to an end. If Charlo beats Canelo, it’s virtually over. Instead, it then might become Benavidez-versus-Charlo.

Canelo is expected to win. He opened as a 2-1 favorite over Charlo in early July. According to some betting sites, the line has been pushed to 4-1. It’s a bet, perhaps, that the old Canelo will remerge, maybe a step slower but still smart enough to know how to adjust.

Canelo-Charlo card to feature best of AZ

From A-to-Z, 22-year-old junior-middleweight Jesus Ramos and 20-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia are two of boxing’s best prospects.

AZ’s emerging combo will give the Canelo-Charlo undercard some real punch.

Ramos (20-0, 16 KOS), of Casa Grande south of Phoenix, faces Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs), of Orlando, 15 Rounds has confirmed. Ramos withdrew from a scheduled bout on the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence card on July 29 because of a hand injury.

The Lubin date will be Ramos’ second at junior-middle. He made his debut at 154 pounds in an impressive stoppage of Joey Spence on the undercard of Benavidez’ decision over Caleb Plant on March 25 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Garcia (15-0, 12 KOs), of Phoenix, will face Armando Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs), of Mexico. Garcia has been penciled in for the card for several weeks. But his opponent wasn’t named until this week in a Boxing Scene report from the New York news conference.

Garcia is coming off a decision over Kevin Salgado on the April 22 card featuring Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Both the Ramos-Lubin and Garcia-Resendiz bouts are scheduled for the pay-per-view portion of the Showtime telecast.

Iron Boy card set for Saturday

The AZ boxing market stays busy Saturday night with promoter Robert Vargas’ latest Iron Boy card at Celebrity Theatre, just east of downtown Phoenix.

Junior-welterweights Trini Ochoa (15-0) of Mesa, and Miguel Zamudio (45-17-1), of Mexico, are scheduled for the main event.

In his last bout, Zamudio got stopped by Lindolfo Delgado, who won a decision last Saturday in the co-main event on a card featured by Emanuel Navarrete’s unanimous decision over Oscar Valdez Jr. in a Fight-of-the-Year contender at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, west of Phoenix.

First bell is scheduled for 5 p.m. (Arizona time).

Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo: LA Press Conference | September 30th on SHOWTIME PPV

CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. JERMELL CHARLO LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LOS ANGELES – August 16, 2023 – Boxing superstars Canelo Álvarez and Jermell Charlo faced off for the second consecutive day Wednesday, this time at a press conference in Los Angeles, before they meet in a historic clash headlining SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) on Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

After kicking off the fight promotion in New York on Tuesday, the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo and undisputed junior middleweight champion Charlo hit the west coast to preview their showdown that will pit two reigning undisputed champions against each other for the first time in the four-belt era.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from The Beverly Hilton:

CANELO ÁLVAREZ

“I’m very happy to be involved in big fights like this. I hope that everybody enjoys this fight because it’s going to be a great night for the fans and for everybody who has wanted to see this fight for a long time.

“We’ll see if it’s true that I’ve lost a step. We’ll see. I understand what the people said and I agree. I didn’t look my best in my last two fights, but I know why and I’m ready for this fight. We’ll see what happens. We’re going to see something different.

“I always say that outside of the ring, I look like I’m an easy opponent. But when fighters step in the ring with me, it’s completely different. It’s not the same watching me from outside the ring as it is actually being inside the ring with me. I’m a different guy.

“I think both Jermell and Jermall Charlo are great fighters. No disrespect to Jermall. But I think Jermell has had better opposition in his fights. I think he is the better fighter. That’s just what I think.

“I’m going to bring my best like always. I’ll bring my skills and my experience into the ring. I’m just going to do my best and that’s it.”

JERMELL CHARLO

“When I got the call for this fight, there was nothing I could say other than ‘let’s go.’ My whole career has kind of been all about chasing Canelo. He’s been the top guy for a long time. The fight has presented itself now and I just have to get in there, do my job and be the best that I can be.

“After September 30, people are gonna appreciate my skills and what I’ve been doing for so long, ever since I was a kid. With every fight, I come to put on a show, and I’m dangerous the whole fight. I want to be known as great.

“He’s gonna find out that I’m the big Charlo. I am what I say I am. Canelo will see that I pack good punching-power, that I have good lateral movement and that I’m a ring general, just like he is. He’ll see that it won’t be a walk in the park. He says he’s gonna be better in this fight, and it’s the same thing for me.

“I’m gonna bring that Texas heat. I’m gonna show up and show out. I’m gonna have fun and do what I do. This is what I love to do. I’m gonna represent the culture and put on a show.

“Get your tickets, tune into ‘All-Access’, tune into the fight, because we’re bringing boxing up to be the best that it can be this year. We’re gonna give you that bang for your buck.”

EDDY REYNOSO, Canelo’s Trainer and Manager

“We’re here and we’re ready to keep moving forward and chasing history. It’s not easy to make a fight between two undisputed champions like we have done. It took a great effort from both teams to be able to make this happen.

“Styles make fights and I believe Canelo and Charlo’s styles clash perfectly to make this a great fight on September 30. Make sure to come out to Las Vegas. It’s going to be a great night.

“We are very motivated as a team to be facing Team Charlo, which has a great trainer in Derrick James and also Joan Guzman. It’s going to be a battle of wits, yes, but it’s all about the fighters that are going to be in the ring. Two undisputed champions with their trainers backing them up to make sure that they are fighting at their best.”

DERRICK JAMES, Charlo’s Trainer

“Hopefully everyone turns out on September 30, because this fight is gonna be fireworks. Both of these guys are gonna bring everything to the ring, and I’m looking forward to Jermell delivering a great performance and a great victory that night.

“My job for Jermell is making sure he can do everything I need him to do in order for him to be successful. I’m not as worried about who’s in the other corner, I’m focused on Jermell. At the same time, this is a super fight. You have to be motivated and inspired by it. I’m motivated to make sure that Jermell comes out successful.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“This is going to be an incredible night. September 30 promises to be nothing but fireworks in front of another electrifying sold out crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Get your tickets early, because this is a fight you won’t want to miss.”

# # #

CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. JERMELL CHARLO NEW YORK PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

NEW YORK – August 15, 2023 – Boxing superstars Canelo Álvarez and Jermell Charlo faced off for the first time on Tuesday at a kickoff press conference in New York to preview their blockbuster showdown that headlines a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) on Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions Pay-Per-View.

The undisputed super middleweight world champion Canelo will take on the undisputed junior middleweight world champion Charlo in a historic matchup that will pit two reigning undisputed champions against each other for the first time in the four-belt era.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions, are available through AXS.com.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday from Palladium Times Square:

CANELO ÁLVAREZ

“Thank you to Jermell for taking this fight. I’m very happy to be in this position and to be in big fights. Jermell is a great fighter who takes on big challenges just like I do. I always take risks.

“Jermell is a great fighter and this is a fight that’s been out there as a possibility for a long time. Now is the correct time for this fight.

“I’m gonna put everything into the ring. My experience, my power and my skills. It’s going to take everything to win this fight. It’s going to be a great night for the fans.

“It’s good that people are saying I’ve lost a step. It’s fine. I know why I didn’t look as good in my last two fights. I know why and I’m different now. I’m preparing now for a different type of fighter.

“I’m 100% focused on this fight. Then we’ll see what happens after. Everyone wants drama and for us to fight on this stage, but when two fighters are 100% focused like we are right now, it’s gonna make it a great fight in the ring.

“I have everything that he says he has as well. I have experience and I’ve been in this position a lot of times. That’s why we’re here. We’re going to find out if he’s got enough on September 30.

“I love being in these kinds of fights. Stay tuned on September 30 because this is gonna be a great night for boxing.”

JERMELL CHARLO

“This is a long time coming. Canelo and Eddy are legends in the game of boxing. They’ve put on great shows and I want to be the one that gets in there and takes it all away from them.

“Me and my brother Jermall have been putting on for boxing and it’s our time now. A lot of people are worried about the wrong things. When you want to win something this big, you have to risk it all.

“I just want to quiet my haters and doubters and turn non-believers into believers. I’ve watched a lot of great people in the sport of boxing and now I think this is the best moment for me to leave my mark. With two great fighters in there, you get nothing but fireworks. When this fight presented itself, it was a no-brainer to make this happen.

“I’m gonna train my ass off and be intelligent. I know I’m moving up in weight, but who cares? That won’t stop me from getting in there and doing it the way I do it. I’m excited for this moment.

“My heart, desire and determination will give me what I need to win. I guarantee a great night and that you’re gonna hear some lions roaring.

“I don’t have any excuses. Whatever happens happens. I came here to win this fight. I’m not laying down. I don’t care what anyone says.

“I’m so proud to be one of the fighters who’s able to get in there and step up and fight the best. I’m gonna be training my ass off. Tune in on September 30. Be there or be square. We’re gonna turn this into a whole new ball game.”

EDDY REYNOSO, Canelo’s Trainer and Manager

“Here we are in New York, once again announcing what will be one of the best fights in recent memory. Styles makes fights, and I believe that both Charlo and Canelo possess the kind of contrasting styles that fans will love to see in a fight.

“Charlo is a great champion and has a great trainer in as Derrick James. He is a great fighter with a big heart that has gotten up off the mat after losing, and that makes him even more dangerous. He lost, but he also redeemed himself and showed that you can redeem yourself to earn big fights like this one.

“This will definitely be a challenge. Charlo is capable of ending the fight at any moment, and we must be ready for anything he migh do.

“We know it will be a tough fight, but we are always ready. You will all see a great fight, and you will also see a very different Canelo compared to the one you saw during the last few fights.”

DERRICK JAMES, Charlo’s Trainer

“This is a fight that Jermell Charlo has always wanted. It’s the type of fight he’s needed to put him into super superstardom. Canelo is a great fighter with a great trainer and they’ve been so consistent over the years. It’s hard to do that in boxing.

“It’s gonna take Jermell being the best version of himself. He’s gonna have to be focused in training camp and focused in the fight. He’s gonna get what he needs to get because of the focus he has and because he knows he has to be himself.

“Jermell should be comfortable with the weight on fight night. He’s daring to be great. He’s all about stepping up and taking the challenges. He wants to be undisputed in two weight classes at the same time.

“It’s all about us coming in and doing what we do best. Both guys are gonna try to do whatever they can do to come out successful. It’s gonna be a great and exciting night of boxing.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“September 30 will be another night of history. It’s impressive what both men have accomplished to become undisputed. And we also have the back-to-back Trainer of the Year winners in Eddy Reynoso and Derrick James up here as well. It’s everything you would want for a mega fight.

“Canelo is truly one of the sport’s best ever. He’s a hero in Mexico and universally respected. He’s a throwback fighter who takes on all challengers and he’s boxing’s biggest star.

“Jermell will bring everything he’s got to this fight. He’s cleaned out the division and beaten every fighter he’s faced. He’s not just convinced he can win this fight, he’s convinced he will.

“This is a classic old school fight with two guys who can really crack. It will come down to who can handle themselves under fire. It’s a super fight you don’t want to miss.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, SHOWTIME SPORTS^®

“Coming off some of the biggest and most anticipated fights in recent memory, we have a special one on September 30. This is another matchup with historic implications, the first bout in the four-belt era pitting two undisputed champions.

“Regardless of who you are rooting for, these two men are among the elites in boxing. Both have historic achievements. Canelo has defeated 18 world champions in his career. He has fought at least one world champion every year for the last 10 years.

“Jermell Charlo is the first undisputed 154-pound world champion in the four-belt era. He could join Terence Crawford as the only male boxer to become undisputed in two weight classes in the four-belt era.

“This event is a rare opportunity to witness greatness. Greatness means not being satisfied with being the first and only four-belt undisputed super welterweight champion. Greatness is pushing for more; more challenges, more history, continuing to test the limits of your own performance. Greatness is taking tough fights and big challenges when you don’t have to.”

# # #

LIVE VIDEO: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo: NYC Press Conference | September 30th on SHOWTIME PPV

CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. JERMELL CHARLO PUBLIC ON SALE BEGINS TODAY AT 10 A.M. PT

LAS VEGAS – August 11, 2023 – Public on-sale begins today at 10 a.m. PT for the highly-anticipated event that will see Mexican superstar and pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Tickets will be available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions.

# # #

MEXICAN SUPERSTAR CANELO ÁLVAREZ PUTS UNDISPUTED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLES ON THE LINE AGAINST HARD-HITTING UNDISPUTED JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION JERMELL CHARLO SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

LAS VEGAS – August 9, 2023 – Mexican superstar and pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles in a blockbuster showdown against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) Saturday, September 30 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Canelo, who’s amassed one of the best resumes of his generation at only 33-years-old, will make the third consecutive defense of his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO super middleweight world titles against the junior middleweight king Charlo in the first matchup of the four-belt era pitting two reigning undisputed champions against each other. With a win, Charlo would add his name alongside legendary champions such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roy Jones Jr. by successfully jumping two weight classes to win a world title.

Pre-sale tickets are available tomorrow, Thursday, August 10 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC

Public on-sale begins Friday, August 11 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by Canelo Promotions and TGB Promotions.

“Canelo Álvarez and Jermell Charlo are fighters who dare to be great every time they enter the ring and have shown that once again by going headfirst into this dream matchup between the two best fighters in their divisions,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Canelo is already a surefire Hall of Famer but continues to seek the biggest and best fights for his devoted fans. Charlo has also established himself as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters and would leave no doubt about his place in boxing’s hierarchy with a win on September 30. This is a night you won’t want to miss on SHOWTIME PPV and at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.”

“We are very excited about this historic matchup under the PBC banner,” said Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s Manager and Trainer. “Our team is very focused on this fight and we have decided to hold a high-altitude training camp to prepare. We have a great champion in Charlo in front of us and this will be an exciting fight because of the styles both fighters bring to the ring.”

“Canelo vs. Charlo is a legitimate mega-fight and yet another testament that SHOWTIME® continues to deliver the biggest and best matchups in the sport.” said Stephen Espinoza, President, SHOWTIME SPORTS®. “In a banner year that has already featured some of the most anticipated fights in recent memory, Canelo vs. Charlo stands out as a historically unique showdown between two undisputed champions. September 30 will be another can’t-miss event for boxing fans around the world.”

Having captured world titles at 154, 160, 168 and 175-pounds, Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) will enter the ring for yet another super fight as he looks to become the first man during the four-belt era to defend all four titles successfully three consecutive times. The fighting pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Canelo became undisputed at super middleweight in November 2021 by taking the IBF belt from then unbeaten Caleb Plant via an 11^th-round TKO headlining a SHOWTIME PPV. After dropping a light heavyweight title fight against Dmitriy Bivol in May 2022, Canelo rebounded to defeat Gennadiy Golovkin in their September 2022 trilogy fight before most recently defeating John Ryder in May.

Under the guidance of his renowned coach Reynoso, Canelo has triumphed over a long list of elite fighters since turning pro at just 15-years-old in 2005, including Golovkin twice, plus Shane Mosley, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto and Sergey Kovalev to name a few. Outside of the Bivol fight, Canelo’s only other defeat came against undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2013.

“I’m very happy that we got to make a fight of this magnitude between two undisputed champions,” said Canelo. “Jermell Charlo has also faced the best in his division, and I’m glad that the fans are going to enjoy a world class fight between us on September 30.”

Houston’s Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) unified the junior middleweight titles in emphatic fashion his last time out, knocking out Brian Castaño in round 10 of their May 2022 rematch, after they fought to a draw in a July 2021 slugfest. The 33-year-old became a unified champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC belt via an 11^th-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights.

Charlo is trained by 2022 BWAA “Trainer of the Year” Derrick James in Dallas and won his first world title in his debut fight with James by scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016. He followed up that victory with three successful defenses, knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning a decision over former world champion Austin Trout. Charlo and his twin brother and two-division champion Jermall, who fight under their Lions Only banner, made history in 2016, becoming the first twins in boxing history to simultaneously hold world championships in the same weight class.

“I’m really excited to make history once again on September 30,” said Charlo. “This is the biggest fight in boxing and I’m coming to leave it all in the ring like I do every time. I manifested this fight into existence and earned it with everything I’ve done in this sport so far. Canelo is a great fighter, but he’s gonna see what Lions Only is all about. When the fight’s over, people are gonna have to recognize that I’m the best fighter in the sport.”

# # #

Nothing New: Canelo ignores Benavidez, agrees to fight Jermall Charlo

By Norm Fraueneim –

Last week, there was a question. Is Canelo Alvarez listening?

This week, there’s an answer.

No.

It’s a definitive no, delivered by Badou Jack, who spoke for impatient fans in a restless, yet evolving marketplace.

Jack, a sudden entry in a search for a fall foe, withdrew from the Canelo lottery and left Jermall Charlo as the only option after getting an offer that would have made him fight at about 20 pounds lighter than his current division, cruiserweight. It also included a deadly rehydration clause.

That’s not an offer. It’s an outrage, but also no surprise. In a column headlined by the aforementioned question, Canelo’s offer was predicted:

Market speaks, but is Canelo listening?

Jack, nobody’s fool, did more than just say no, however. He ended his twitter reply with this:

“Canelo let’s give the fans what they want to see and fight David Benavidez.”

Jack repeated what has been said, ad nauseam, for a couple years. Yet, Canelo ignores the refrain. Jack called for Canelo to fight Benavidez on Monday. On Thursday, there was news that Canelo ignored him and just about everybody else all over again.

Instead of Benavidez, he’ll fight the seldom-seen Charlo on Sept. 16, according to a twitter report from ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.

After his last few fights, Canelo wore a crown that symbolized his long reign. But his silence about anything Benavidez is turning him into the proverbial king with no clothes. You can speculate as to why.

Maybe, he fears the younger Benavidez’ abundant energy late in a long career when Canelo’s measured performances are characterized by fatigue in the late rounds.

Maybe, he’s angry at the trash talk from Benavidez and his trainer/father, Jose Sr. Canelo’s documented pay-per-view power has allowed him to dictate. He wants praise, not insults. Try to bully Canelo and he’ll walk away, angry and defiant. Maybe, that’s why it took so long for a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin.

Maybe, all of the above. Maybe, not.

Maybe, it changes.

But time isn’t exactly on Canelo’s side any more. Patience is quickly draining through the hourglass in a marketplace that is moving on. There are abundant signs that there’s business beyond Canelo.

It was there in April with Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia in a pay-per-view bout that drew a reported 1.2 million customers.

On July 29, there’s the long-awaited Terence Crawford-versus-Errol Spence Jr. Crawford and Spence continued negotiations after talks failed last October.

It’s still uncertain whether they’ll be rewarded with numbers even close to Davis-Garcia. Still, there’s good news in the attempt. It’s simply says they’re responding to a market demand, one of many. For now, it looks as if Canelo is only trying to satisfy himself.

Benavidez never heard from Canelo on an offer for a September fight from Benavidez promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz. Reportedly, the deal was potentially worth as much as $60 million. From Canelo, however, it was met with just more of the same:

Silence.

The Phoenix-born Benavidez is now talking about fighting Jamie Munguia or David Morrell. Morrell had been the original plan. Contrary to some reports, however, David Benavidez says there’s no tentative date or final deal.

Meanwhile, Morrell has started to sound a lot like Benavidez. Morrell is trash-talking him, through a publicist, in an attempt push him into a bout.

Long-term, Canelo’s moves are a signal for Benavidez to move up, from super-middleweight to light-heavy. That’s where his future is. Where his prime is. `

On the Benavidez clock, it makes little sense to wait anymore on Canelo, who will turn 33 on July 18 and then enter the next stage of his long career against Charlo on a PBC deal that reportedly includes two more fights, May and September in 2024.

An agreement for two more Canelo fights, both next year, could mean just about anything.

But Benavidez can only judge it from what he already knows. To wit: Canelo won’t fight him. There’s no other way to interpret what Canelo has done since the Benavidez-Canelo possibility entered the public conversation. Repeatedly, the undisputed 168-pound champion finds another way to avoid him.

The latest example: Charlo.

Charlo, a middleweight belt holder, hasn’t fought in two years. He’s never fought at super-middleweight. Yet, he’ll fight Canelo instead of Benavidez, the World Boxing Council’s so-called mandatory challenger and a former two-time WBC champion. From virtually every conceivable corner, there’s no reasonable explanation for it.

Before Thursday’s news, Canelo’s sometime promoter Eddie Hearn told several media outlets that Charlo was next. In almost the next breath, Hearn went on to say it wouldn’t be a competitive fight. With that kind of recommendation, who’s going to buy?

From Benavidez’ perspective, there’s only one conclusion. For the sake of his career, he has to assume Canelo won’t fight him, now or next year.

For years, Benavidez has been chasing Canelo as though that one fight will define him.

Now, he’s forced to think about a career without Canelo. At 26, he’s got lots of time to do exactly that: Re-define himself according to his own terms.

Move on. A lot of fans already have.

Market speaks, but is Canelo listening?

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s been a good week to be a fight fan, which is another way of saying the business is staging an overdue comeback with fights that matter.

Front-and-center, Terence Crawford-versus-Errol Spence Jr. in a July 29 bout formally introduced this week at coast-to-coast news conferences, first in Los Angeles and then New York.

In a year full of evidence that an audience is still there, Crawford-Spence represents what looks to be the best in a surprising comeback from widespread doom-and-gloom last fall.

First, there were a reported 1.2 million pay-per-view buys for Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia.

Then, there was news that Teofimo Lopez’ entertaining decision over Josh Taylor Saturday drew boxing’s biggest cable/network audience this year. According to Nielsen, it peaked at 980,000.

The sudden spike adds up to a rebound few saw in the immediate aftermath of news in late October that Crawford and Spence couldn’t reach a deal for what could be a welterweight classic. But they stayed at the table, amid mixed reports about how the talks were going.

Then, however, there was the million-plus PPV milestone for Davis-Garcia on April 22.

A month later, Crawford-Spence had a deal.

The marketplace had spoken.

The message: For the right fight, there’s an audience.

But not everybody got the message.

Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s lone pay-per-view draw since Floyd Mayweather Jr., is still searching for an opponent. It’s an ongoing process, ever-changing and a reflection of uncertainty that stands in stark contrast to a fan base sure about what it wants.

It wants Canelo-versus-David Benavidez. No secret there. For about as long as fans and fighters have been calling for Crawford-Spence, there’s been an escalating demand for Canelo-Benavidez.

Canelo and trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso have resisted, trotting out a litany of reasons at every turn.

Canelo has said Benavidez’ resume didn’t measure up. He said he didn’t want to fight fellow Mexicans. Benavidez, of Phoenix, has a Mexican dad and an Ecuadorian mom.

Canelo hasn’t blamed climate change. Not yet, anyway. But you get the idea. Over the last few weeks, any chance Benavidez had at fighting Canelo seems to have come.

And gone.

All over again.

Benavidez promoter and manager Sampson Lewkowicz had been publicly campaigning for a fall date with Canelo. He was reportedly offering Canelo a deal potentially worth more than $60 million. But Reynoso said he never got Lewkowicz’ message. Didn’t get that marketplace message either.

Lewkowicz, who offered $50 million a couple of years ago, went on to tell South American media that Benavidez would move on and pursue a dangerous date with emerging super-middleweight David Morrell, a Cuban living in Minnesota. Morrell had always been Benavidez’ plan.

Besides, it was clear that Canelo had already altered his plans. There was no movement in reported negotiations for a rematch of his loss to light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. Now, there are questions about whether there was ever any substantive talk.

Over the last week, Jermall Charlo, who holds the World Boxing Council’s middleweight belt, and Badou Jack suddenly landed on Canelo’s short list, according to ESPN.

The 33-year-old Charlo hasn’t fought in two years. He’s been struggling with mental issues, according to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

Meanwhile, Jack is a cruiserweight champion. He beat Ilunga Makabu in February to win the WBC’s 200-pound title in Saudi Arabia. Negotiations are reportedly underway for a fight in October, also in Saudi.

Problem is, Canelo, the undisputed super-middleweight champion, has never been heavier than 174.5 pounds, light-heavy. Some kind of crazy catchweight would have to be negotiated.

It’s hard to imagine that any state commission, ruled by traditional safeguards, would sanction a fight forcing Jack to be at 20 to 25 fewer pounds than he was for his last bout — 198.5 in February.

But this is Saudi, as in sportswash money. The Saudi role in the controversial LIV-PGA golf deal is just more proof that almost nothing is ever off the scale. Only the money is. Canelo, an avid golfer himself, might get in line for his own share of the sportswash.

But would it satisfy the market demand for significant fights?

Has there been any clamor for Canelo against a middleweight beltholder who hasn’t answered an opening bell in two years?

Any demand for Canelo against a cruiserweight champion in a bout turned gimmicky by crazy weight restrictions?

No.

And no.

That’s what a resilient market is saying in numbers amplified by an audience suddenly back on pay-per-view, cable and network.

The message: Ignore it at your own peril.

Benavidez-Canelo? Benavidez promoter goes public with his campaign

By Norm Frauenheim –

Politics, boxing style, continues to surround the David Benavidez-versus-Canelo Alvarez possibility and nobody is playing that game harder than Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz.

Lewkowicz has gone public with negotiations in an apparent attempt to push Canelo into an agreement for a September fight with Benavidez instead of Dmitry Bivol.

In a pubic letter this week to Canelo manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso, Lewkowicz wrote that he has made an offer.

“Please know that you do indeed have an offer to face Benavidez, a sizeable one, and I must tell you that I am offended by your claim that I’m ‘fantasizing’ about making this fight happen.,’’ Lewkowicz wrote.

“If you are also unable to find this open letter and no one tells you about it, would anyone who knows him please let Eddy know that I will send the same offer for him to communicate to Canelo Alvarez.’’

According to Sports Illustrated Thursday, the sizeable offer is as much as $50 million, including a percentage of ticket revenue and pay-per-view.

The reported number isn’t new. Lewkowicz said in February 2022 that he offered Canelo $50 million to fight the Phoenix-born fighter, the World Boxing Council’s No. 1 challenger for the WBC super-middleweight belt held by Canelo.

Canelo apparently said no and fought Bivol later that May, losing a decision in a huge upset at light-heavyweight.

Benavidez went on to a blowout of former middleweight champion David Lemieux, also that May, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ, a few miles of roadwork from the Phoenix streets where Benavidez grew up.

After the third-round stoppage, Lewkowicz told reporters that Benavidez-Canelo was “a fantasy.’’

But he changed his mind after Benavidez’ solid decision over Caleb Plant on March 25 in Las Vegas.

Fantasy had become reality, he said. Canelo, he said, has nowhere else to go. A Benavidez fight had to be his next stop, he said.

Then, Lewkowicz told 15 Rounds that he believed there were complications that would prevent a Canelo rematch with Bivol, a Russian whose career has already been impacted by politics. He’s banned from WBC ratings because of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war with the Ukraine.

Despite Bivol’s unanimous decision over Canelo, the 2022 Fighter of the Year has not fought since stunning the Mexican legend and pay-per-view star.

Canelo has said repeatedly that he wants to avenge the loss in a rematch at 175 pounds. However, Bivol has said he wants the fight at 168.

He says he wants an opportunity to win Canelo’s super-middleweight belts, although the WBC title would not be at stake if the acronym stands by its Russian ban.

It’s not clear whether Canelo and Bivol can reach an agreement on weight. If not, there’s talk that Bivol will fight in August.

That would leave a date surrounding Mexico’s Sept. 16 Independence Day wide open.

Benavidez?

That’s still not clear. Lewkowicz’ public campaign reflects uncertainty about Canelo’s future, especially in the wake of his unanimous decision over John Ryder in a tune-up on May 6 in front of a hometown crowd in a soccer stadium near Guadalajara.

He battered and bloodied Ryder. He knocked him down. But he didn’t knock him out. Hence, the doubt.

There are questions about whether he needs another tune-up instead of an immediate challenge, be it Bivol or Benavidez. Edgar Berlanga has been mentioned.

Even if the Berlanga option made some sense in strict boxing terms, it would unleash further criticism of Canelo.

Safe to say, it would represent a concession, perhaps further confirmation, of what fans have been saying. To wit: Canelo is in decline.

Another factor: A decision between Bivol and Benavidez represents a choice between legacy and more money for a wealthy fighter who has always said he wants to make Mexican history.

History means Julio Cesar Chavez.

There’s an argument that Canelo has to avenge the loss Bivol if he wants even a chance at ever surpassing Chavez’ historic reign as Mexico’s best ever.

But Canelo-Bivol 2 ranks behind Canelo-Benavidez in terms of what fans want to see. Despite Bivol’s accomplished resume, Benavidez is simply better known, especially among Mexican and Mexican-American fans.

On social media, there’s not much clamor for Bivol-Canelo 2. But there is for Canelo-Benavidez, a natural extension of the Mexican-Mexican American rivalry

Lewkowicz knows that. That why he’s on the campaign trail.

Valdez-Navarrete Update

An intriguing Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete has figured to be a Phoenix fight since the bout was first mentioned as a possibility.

Valdez stood in the ring alongside Navarrete and said “Let’s do it, maybe right here in Arizona” after Navarrete kept the junior-lightweight fight alive with a surprisingly tough victory over Aussie stand-in Liam Wilson on Feb. 3 at Desert Diamond in Glendale.

Valdez, a Mexican Olympian who went to school in Tucson, did his part, showing no signs of a rib injury or rust throughout a solid decision over Adam Lopez in a Vegas rematch on May 20.

Top Rank is still planning for Valdez-Navarrete for August 12. Still, it’s not official. It could still happen at Desert Diamond or at Footprint Center, the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix. As of Thursday, both were still available for the projected date.

Bivol or Benavidez? Canelo confronted by a choice between legacy or money

By Norm Frauenheim –

It was a homecoming that produced mixed reviews and perhaps a dilemma.

The mix, some praise and lots of criticism, was no surprise. Canelo Alvarez had to know that was coming. It was guaranteed the day Canelo signed to fight John Ryder, a tough fighter yet a second-tier talent.

Canelo beat him, bloodied him, in a one-sided decision last Saturday in his first fight in Mexico in more than a decade. The win was expected. So, too, was a knockout. The KO didn’t happen and therein rests the potential dilemma.

Who’s next?

Dmitry Bivol?

Or David Benavidez?

What’s next?

Legacy?

Or more money?

Canelo emerged from the predictable triumph at super-middleweight still sounding certain about his plans for a September rematch in a chance to avenge his loss to Bivol at light-heavyweight a year ago. It’s consistent with what he has been saying for weeks. It’s also consistent with his long-stated pursuit of legacy.

For years, he has said he wants to make history. If Forbes is accurate, he probably doesn’t need to make much more money.

Dollar-for-dollar, he’s a contender, according to Forbes, which produces a list more valuable than any pound-for-pound ranking. He’s fifth on Forbes’ latest edition of the world’s top earning athletes. The magazine reports he earned $110- million over the last 12 months.

Coincidently, he’s also at fifth in a lot of the pound-for-pound rankings. He’s slipped, or at least that’s the emerging consensus from media and bloggers who concluded that no KO of Ryder is a sure sign of decline in the Mexican’s long, rich career. It was also judged to be a sign that Canelo can’t beat Bivol at any weight.

For a man with just about everything, Bivol represents the one piece missing from a Canelo empire that includes real estate and his own line of gas stations. Bivol stands in the way of the legacy he pursues.

Canelo wants to be remembered as the best Mexican ever. That means supplanting Julio Cesar Chavez, for so long an enduring piece of Mexican history. Chavez is more than the face of Mexican boxing. He is its edifice.

Beat Bivol in a risky rematch, and Canelo will have carved out his own claim. For him, history means only one thing: Chavez. But there are doubts, more now than before the comeback against Ryder.

There are also complications about whether an agreement with Bivol can negotiated. Canelo, proud and stubborn, says he wants the rematch to be at the same weight, 175 pounds. But Bivol has been quoted as saying he wants it at 168. The light-heavyweight champion says he would be further motivated by a chance to take Canelo’s undisputed title.

However, one belt might not be there. The World Boxing Council has said it would not allow Bivol to fight for one of its titles because he’s Russian. The WBC has banned Russians because of Putin’s ongoing war with the Ukraine.

Even at the lighter weight, Bivol would still be the much bigger fighter. Barring some rehydration clause on the morning of the bout, Bivol’s size would still be an imposing challenge.

Canelo has heard that talk. It’s been impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, there’s the Benavidez option, who is still at 168 pounds.

The aggressive Benavidez is the WBC’s mandatory challenger for that piece of Canelo’s undisputed title. The Phoenix fighter is known for his volume punching and tireless pursuit. He moves forward, ever forward. He’s more powerful than Bivol, yet lacks some of the Russian’s agile defense. He might offer a better shot at victory for Canelo than Bivol ever would.

Benavidez might also offer a chance at bigger money than Bivol, the reigning Fighter of the Year, yet still an unknown Russian. Bivol has been inactive over the last year despite his upset of Canelo.

Benavidez is Mexican-American. He talks trash; Bivol speaks Russian.

Early Thursday, Benavidez got headlines for calling out Canelo on his Instagram account. It only would have been news if he hadn’t.

“Let’s give the people what they want to see,’’ Benavidez said all over again

From the promotional and pay-per-view perspective, Benavidez is the perfect opponent for a bout surrounding Mexico’s September 16 Independence Day.

I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again: In the history of Mexican-versus-Mexican American boxing, Canelo-versus-Benavidez could be the biggest since Chavez-versus-Oscar De La Hoya. It would generate huge money.

Canelo has plenty of that. Only the last piece to a legacy is missing.

Canelo is back with a promise to reassert his reign of the game

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s getting hard to identify the so-called face of boxing. One week, it looks a lot like Gervonta Davis. Next week, maybe it’ll look like Canelo Alvarez all over again.

Let’s just say it’s fractured.

Alvarez, at least, promises to erase the doubt Saturday on pay-per-view in a Mexican homecoming against John Ryder in a comeback that might help identify how much is left in Canelo’s long, legendary career.

It also figures to identify who’s next.

A couple of days before opening bell against Ryder in a DAZN super-middleweight bout (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) near Guadalajara, next continues to look a lot like Dmitry Bivol, the light-heavyweight champion whose upset of Canelo in May left persistent questions about the Mexican’s future.

The bout against Ryder, a 16-to-1 underdog, looks to be the first step toward a chance for Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) to set the record straight with an avenging victory.

Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) could change all of that, or at least just add more questions. But don’t bet on it, especially in front of an expected crowd of more than 50,000 proud Mexican partisans at a soccer stadium near Canelo’s hometown.

Canelo, who is coming off wrist surgery, reiterated his plans to fight Bivol during a session with reporters Thursday. He repeated that he wants the rematch at light-heavyweight again. There had been some talk, mostly from promoter Eddie Hearn, about super-middleweight.

But, no, Canelo said, he wants everything to be the same on every scale. Only the result changes, he vowed. At light-heavy, his 168-pound titles also would not be in jeopardy.

Last week, World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman said he would not allow Bivol, a Russian, to fight for a belt sanctioned by the WBC. The Mexico City-based acronym has banned Russians from its rankings because of Putin’s war against the Ukrainians.

It’s a move that probably assures mandatory challenger David Benavidez will have to wait until at least next year. But there’s a silver lining. Finally, Benavidez now appears to be on Canelo’s agenda. After a year of dismissing Benavidez, Canelo mentioned him as a real possibility Thursday.

After Bivol, the plan is to fight Benavidez, he said.

“You know, I fight everybody,” Canelo said. “When Gennadiy Golovkin first appeared in the boxing community, I was the guy to face him. Same thing with Benavidez.’’

Plans are like faces, of course. They change. For the first time, however, it looks as if Benavidez’ long, often impatient pursuit of a bout with Canelo will be realized.

Yet, it also represents a potential risk for the Phoenix-born super-middleweight, whose credibility and celebrity were further enhanced by his unanimous decision over Caleb Plant on March 25.

It could mean a dangerous date against David Morrell, who is coming off an eye-opening first-round blowout of Yamaguchi Falcao on the undercard of Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia on April 22.

Morrell, who called out Benavidez after the victory, looks like a threat, perhaps the riskiest date in Benavidez’ own fight to become a face of the game.

CANELO: TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE SOMETHING SPECIAL

Canelo Alvarez is promising to deliver ‘something special’ tomorrow night when he defends his undisputed Super-Middleweight title against John Ryder at the Estadio Akron on Saturday night, live on DAZN and DAZN PPV.

Canelo (58-2-2 39 KOs) defends his Undisputed crown for the second time after beating bitter rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their trilogy battle in Las Vegas in September, having ripped the IBF crown from Caleb Plant in Sin City in November 2021 with an 11^th round stoppage.

The Mexican superstar will make an emotional return to his homeland for his latest Cinco de Mayo showdown, and it will be 4180 days since he last stepped through the ropes in Mexico, when he stopped Kermit Cintron in Mexico City in five rounds to defend his WBO World Light-Middleweight title.

The 32 year old four-weight World Champion fights for the 63^rd time of his storied career as he closes in on 18 years as a pro. Cinco de Mayo weekend will see him fight for the 35^th time in his homeland and it promises to be a spectacular occasion with the state of Jalisco marking 200 years of independence against WBO mandatory challenger Ryder (32-5 18 KOs) – and Canelo is promising a spectacular night in front of over 50,000 fans in Guadalajara.

“It’s going to be something special after 12 years,” said Canelo. “I started my career here in Guadalajara in the little arenas. And now we are in the biggest stadium and the biggest response from the people. It’s going to be one of the best nights of my career for sure. I am really excited for this fight.

“I was always thinking about fighting again in Guadalajara of course. You can expect something special, and the result is even better. I’m glad and grateful that the people respond like this. I’m enjoying this moment a lot. I enjoy this because it is hard to put on this kind of fights and have people respond like this. It’s an honor for me and I’m proud of it. I’m going to bring everything tomorrow night.

“It wasn’t about money. There were a lot of things that made it hard to put the fight here. Everything, TV, moving, things had to change here in Guadalajara. It’s hard to do it but you know I’m happy I made this and I’m happy to bring this fight to Guadalajara.

“For a long time, I didn’t train here in Guadalajara so me training here for the whole month is different. I feel different. The vibes are different. My family is here. My grandma is here. So, it’s been different, but I enjoy everything. Eddy Reynoso said to me, ‘You need to enjoy this moment because you deserve it. Enjoy what you do because this is such a big thing’. I am just enjoying and thanking all my people and the response is just amazing, so I enjoy it a lot.

“You know it is going to be a good fight when a fighter is coming forward. John is a good fighter. He’s southpaw and he throws punches from everywhere. It’ll be a little bit difficult in the first rounds, but I have the experience and I need to handle it.”

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS:

12 x 3 mins Undisputed World Super-Middleweight title
CANELO ALVAREZ 168lbs vs. JOHN RYDER 167.1lbs

12 x 3 mins WBC World Flyweight title
JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ 112lbs vs. RONAL ROLANDO BATISTA 112lbs

10 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
GABRIEL VALENZUELA 139lbs vs. STEVE SPARK 140lbs

RYDER: I RELISH FACING THE KING IN THE LION’S DEN

John Ryder is embracing the challenge of fighting Canelo Alvarez in his Guadalajara home – and says it’s only right to face the Mexican king in his backyard as he looks to defeat the undisputed Super-Middleweight champion at the Estadio Akron on Saturday night, live on DAZN and DAZN PPV.

Ryder (32-5-1 18 KOs) takes on the biggest challenge of his 12 year career in facing the pound-for-pound king in Mexico, and in doing so, meets a champion that’s eager to put on a dazzling display on an historic occasion, with the 32 year old fighting at home for the first time in over 11 and a half years

‘The Gorilla’ landed the WBO interim title in his last fight when Zach Parker retired on his stool after four rounds of their clash in London, England in November.

That win for the 34 year old followed a career-best victory earlier in 2022 over former Middleweight ruler and old Canelo foe Daniel Jacobs, with Ryder having also tackled three other Britons who have taken on the Mexican king, challenging Callum Smith for the Super-Middleweight World crown after fights with Billy Joe Saunders and Rocky Fielding.

Ryder completed his camp in Los Angeles before arriving in the capital of Jalisco, and the Londoner has enjoyed the hospitality to date in a state that is celebrating 200 years of independence – but the challenger knows that will turn into hostility on Saturday night – and he’s relishing the chance to ruin the party and be the second King from the UK to be crowned on the day.

“I know it’s going to be hostile; I am prepared for it,” said Ryder. “I think to go and fight a champion, you should go to their backyard to take their titles and that’s what I am doing. Most fighters have gone to Vegas or Texas to fight him, but I’m in Guadalajara in the Lion’s Den.

“I think that the pressure is on him. It’s been a long time since he boxed here and who expects anything of me? No one. People think I am here for the paycheck, I am not, I am here to show that dreams can come true. I’ve worked hard to get here, and I deserve to be here.

“I think it is a good time to fight him, he has a lot of miles on the clock. Last year he had the Bivol defeat, I found it strange that he went back to Light-Heavyweight, and then he went back to 168 and while I don’t think it was a bad performance, I think people were expecting him to stop him and put the final nail in the coffin of the trilogy and he didn’t, although he did win comfortably. Obviously, he’s had the surgery on his hand and maybe there’s question marks on wear and tear, but I want the best version of him because I will give the best version of me.

“I have to embrace the moment. After 12 rounds, my hand will be raised, and the new, from Islington, London, UK, undisputed World Super-Middleweight champion, John Ryder. It’s a dream opportunity and I don’t plan to waste it.

“To prepare for him, you have to take him off his pedestal initially as he is who he is, but you won’t be able to get Canelo in to spar to prepare for Canelo. You work with what you can get which we have. Tony Sims is a great trainer and a real boxing historian, but it’s all very modern in my camp too. It’s been a different camp as I stayed with Joe Cordina for three weeks was fantastic, it’s one big family and he’s like a brother. He regained his World title so now it’s down to me.

“I have always believed that I was destined for bigger things. My career has always been a work in progress. I’ve got good people around me, familiar faces, and there’s nothing new here, I’m not in the main fight hotel so everything is a bit calmer, it’s nice and we’ll dial in when we need to.”

WEIGHTS: CANELO ALVAREZ PROMOTIONS’ TOP PROSPECTS FIGHT WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, IN GUADALAJARA

?May 2, 2023, Guadalajara, MX – As the boxing world descends upon Guadalajara, México for Canelo-Ryder fight week, Canelo Alvarez Promotions will show off three of their young undefeated boxers, in the boxing ring, on Wednesday, May 3.

The fight card, promoted by Canelo Alvarez Promotions, Close Y Talento Boxeo and No Boxing No Life, will be streamed live world-wide on ProBox TV beginning at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT. Here is the card and weights:

10 Rounds Lightweights (135) TV# 4

Jonathan Lopez_______________________vs_________________________Osvaldo Nuñez

Orlando, Florida________________________________________________Morelia, Michoacan

10-0, 7 KOs_________________________________________________________________5-4

131¼ lbs._____________________________________________________________131¼ lbs.

8 Rounds Middleweights (160) TV#3

Lazaro Lorenzana___________________ _vs____________________________Alexis Rios

San Diego, California______________________________________________Zapopan, Jalisco

10-0, 8 KOs__________________________________________________________4-2-1, 1 KO

158½ lbs._____________________________________________________________158½ lbs.

6 Rounds Super Bantamweights (122) TV# 2

Oscar Hernandez_______________________vs________________________Joseph Morales

Guadalajara, Mexico____________________________________________Mexico City, Mexico

4-1, 2 KOs___________________________________________________________2-1-1, 1 KO

122 lbs.__________________________________________________________________121½

6 Rounds Lightweights (135) TV #1 (9:00 PM)

Cesar Ortiz____________________________vs______________________Antonio Gonzalez

Guadalajara, Mexico____________________________________________Mexico City, Mexico

5-0, 5 KOs____________________________________________________________3-5, 1 KO

135 lbs.________________________________________________________________135 lbs.

How to Watch Wednesday’s Show:

1. ProBoxTV.com

2. The ProBoxTV app available on all app stores

3. Available on Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV

Calling the fights on the ProBox TV produced event, on the English side, will be blow-by-blow commentator Mike “Goldy” Goldberg with the expert duo of former world champions Paul “Magic Man” Malignaggi and Chris “The Fighting Collegian” Algieri as color commentators. On the Spanish side will be Ricardo Celis calling blow-by-blow and Eight-Time World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez adding his expertise.

About ProBoxTV: ProBox TV is a digital subscription service which gives fans exclusive access to ProBox TV Content including live streaming of fights and on-demand videos. You can also watch daily talk shows with Juan Manuel Marquez, Paulie Malignaggi, Chris Algieri and our host Claudia Trejos. ProBox TV can be accessed using your favorite streaming devices, including mobile devices, or any personal computer. ProBox TV is a global product and available in all countries.

Upcoming WEDNESDAY Live Boxing on ProBox TV:

May 17 – Plant City, FL;_______May 31 – México City

June 14 – Plant City, FL;______June 28 – México

July 12 – Plant City, FL:_______July 26 – México City, MX

August 9 – Plant City, FL;______August 23 – México

September 6 – Plant City, FL;___September 20 – México City, MX

Follow ProBox TV at https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en

CANELO ALVAREZ PROMOTIONS’ TOP PROSPECTS FIGHT WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, IN GUADALAJARA

May 1, 2023, Guadalajara, MX – As the boxing world descends upon Guadalajara, México for Canelo-Ryder fight week, Canelo Alvarez Promotions will show off three of their young undefeated boxers, in the boxing ring, on Wednesday, May 3.

The three Canelo fighters on the stream will be Fernando “Ferros” Molina (8-0-1, 3 KOs) from Guadalajara, México, Lazaro Lorenzana (10-0, 8 KOs) from San Diego, CA, and Jonathan Lopez (10-0, 7 KOs) from Orlando, Florida.

The fight card, promoted by Canelo Alvarez Promotions, Close Y Talento Boxeo and No Boxing No Life, will be streamed live world-wide on ProBox TV beginning at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT.

In the main event, Molina will battle Kevin Piedrahita (6-1, 6 KOs) from Celaya, Guanajuato, México, in a ten-round lightweight bout. In the co-featured bout, Lorenzana and Alexis Rios (4-2-1, 1 KO) from Zapopan, Jalisco, México will face off in a six-round super welterweight bout. Opening the stream will be Lopez in a ten-round super featherweight bout.

How to Watch Wednesday’s Show:

1. ProBoxTV.com

2. The ProBoxTV app available on all app stores

3. Available on Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV

Chris Algieri notes: “Of course the eyes of the boxing world are all going to be on Canelo in his return to Guadalajara against John Ryder. This a massive event and deserves the attention it is getting. That being said, it doesn’t mean the boxing world stops. ProBox will have its regularly scheduled Wednesday night fight series right in the middle of Canelo-Ryder fight week. ProBox isn’t here to compete with Canelo Alvarez, it’s here to find the next Canelo Alvarez. Young fighters shouldn’t have to put their careers on hold because of a big fight. In fact, it’s a great opportunity for the champions of the future to soak up some of that superstar buzz that surrounds a big fight week.”

Paulie Malignaggie adds: Canelo is always front and center and is the name that resonates most with todays fight fans out of all the fighters of this generation. He is always the one under the most powerful microscope because literally everything about him can be and is discussed on his fight weeks. And ProBox is grateful to be part of the discussion.”

Upcoming WEDNESDAY Live Boxing on ProBox TV:

May 17 – Plant City, FL;_______May 31 – México City

June 14 – Plant City, FL;______June 28 – México

July 12 – Plant City, FL:_______July 26 – México City, MX

August 9 – Plant City, FL;______August 23 – México

September 6 – Plant City, FL;___September 20 – México City, MX

Follow ProBox TV at https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en

DURING CANELO – RYDER FIGHT WEEK IN GUADALAJARA Canelo Alvarez Promotions, Clase Y Talento Boxeo & No Boxing No Life Presents “WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 LIVE ON PROBOX TV

APRIL 26, 2023, PALNT CITY, FL – Every Canelo fight is an event and the entire boxing universe is focused on “Canelo Fight Week.” Next week, during fight week, Close Y Talento Boxeo, No Boxing, No Life, & Canelo Alvarez Promotions will promote a boxing event on Wednesday, May 3. The event will produced and streamed live, world-wide, on ProBox TV, beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

In the main event, hometown boxer Fernando “Ferros” Molina (8-0-1, 3 KOs) from Guadalajara, México will battle Kevin Piedrahita (6-1, 6 KOs) from Celaya, Guanajuato, México, in a ten-round lightweight bout. In the co-featured bout, Lazaro Lorenzana (10-8, 8 KOs) from San Diego, CA and Alexis Rios (4-2-1, 1 KO) from Zapopan, Jalisco, México will face off in a six-round super welterweight bout.

How to Watch Wednesday’s Show:

1. ProBoxTV.com

2. The ProBoxTV app available on all app stores

3. Available on Roku TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV

Upcoming WEDNESDAY Live Boxing on ProBox TV:

May 3 – Guadalajara, México; May 17 – Plant City, FL;

May 31 – México City

June 14 – Plant City, FL; June 28 – México

July 12 – Plant City, FL: July 26 – México City, MX

August 9 – Plant City, FL; August 23 – México

September 6 – Plant City, FL; September 20 – México City, MX

Follow ProBox TV at https://twitter.com/ProBox_TV and https://www.youtube.com/c/ProBoxTV

For more ProBox TV info click here https://proboxtv.com/what-is-probox-tv/en

Tune-up or Crossroads? Questions continue to swirl about Canelo’s bout with Ryder

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s called a tune-up. A long-awaited homecoming. But it’s beginning to look as if Canelo Alvarez’ fight with John Ryder on May 6 might prove to be more than just that.

The bout, Canelo’s first since his trilogy decision over Gennadiy Golovkin in September, is turning into a key date that could set the stage for the next and perhaps final chapter in a long, legendary career.

For weeks, the bout has been advertised as a way for Canelo to come back from surgery on his left wrist.

After a seven-month layoff, it’s a chance to see whether the wrist is repaired and the energy restored. In Canelo’s first fight in Mexico in more than a decade, it’s also an opportunity to say thanks to his fans in hometown Guadalajara.

It’s still all of those things. But increasingly there’s more at stake. More to consider.

There’s David Benavidez, who emerged from his unanimous decision over Caleb Plant on March 25 with unmistakable momentum. Then, there’s light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who has been on the sidelines longer than Canelo in spite of his career-defining upset of the undisputed super-middleweight champion in a 175-pound last May.

The clamor for more Benavidez from his growing fan base and Bivol’s disappointing inactivity despite Fighter-of-the-Year recognition for the Canelo stunner are creating crosswinds and perhaps a crossroads for Canelo.

What’s next?

That plan looked simple enough before Benavidez-Plant. On Canelo’s to-do list, the first item was beating Ryder without complication and with only the roar of an adoring hometown crowd. Second item: A rematch with Bivol in September in a bid to correct the record with an avenging victory that would silence the Canelo doubters.

Before and after Benavidez plowed through Plant in the late rounds of a so-called 12-round eliminator, Canelo insisted that his 2023 calendar was booked.

Benavidez would have to continue waiting until at least next year. But Benavidez’ victory over Plant represents something of a coming-out party for the Phoenix-born fighter. There’s leverage in that. His growing number of fans are amplifying his call for a Canelo fight this year. Put it this way: His victory over Plant has put him squarely in the argument and will keep him there.

In on-line and social media, it’s an argument that – like Benavidez — won’t go away. Just three weeks after Benavidez-Plant and three weeks before Canelo-Ryder, it continues. It’s sure to still be there, part of the proceedings at opening bell in Guadalajara.

It’s a debate fueled, first and foremost, by business interests. In prize fighting, follow the prize.

Despite Bivol’s comprehensive ring skill, he’s doesn’t have Benavidez’ emerging name recognition, especially among Mexican and Mexican-American fans. A further complication is Bivol’s Russian citizenship during Putin’s war with the Ukraine. Both loom as explanations for his inability to stay active in the wake of a victory that should have created opportunity. It just didn’t.

Depending on how Canelo does against Ryder, there are now reports that Showtime might make “an aggressive” offer to Canelo to fight Benavidez in late 2023. Bivol-Canelo would be interesting, but Benavidez-Canelo is the path to the biggest money, both for the fighters and the networks

But beware. In February 2022, Benavidez promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz said he had made an offer to Canelo to fight Benavidez in the fall of last year. It was aggressive, as in $50-million aggressive, according to Lewkowicz.

Canelo declined then.

He might decline again and instead pursue a rematch with Bivol. He has said he would want the rematch to again be at 175 pounds. His current promoter, Eddie Hearn, has mentioned super-middle, 168, which would put Canelo’s titles at risk.

But the biggest risk would be another loss, dealing a huge blow to Canelo’s career and long-stated pursuit of history. It would also damage the big-money potential of an immediate fight with Benavidez.

Already, there are hints of what many inside boxing have been saying since May. To wit: He can’t beat Bivol at either weight, 168 or 175. At opening bell, the Russian would still be the much bigger man.

Echoes of that opinion were evident last week in comments from Bivol manager Viktor Kornilov

“I don’t think Canelo’s team wants this fight and everything will be done to try to avoid this rematch and I don’t blame them,’’ Kornilov told RingTV.com.

Kornilov preceded that comment by saying that Canelo, Hearn, DAZN and fans wanted the fight.

“I do believe that Eddie, the fans and DAZN want the rematch,” Kornilov said. “There is no doubt this fight is attractive, as this is a fight Canelo clearly lost by majority of the rounds. I am sure Canelo personally wants revenge as well.’’

But, Kornilov continued:

“At the same time …” he said like somebody who could foresee a crossroads.

Benavidez-Canelo? Benavidez is winning the political rounds

By Norm Frauenheim –

For now, the David Benavidez-Canelo Alvarez possibility isn’t about boxing. It’s about politics.

The debate goes on.

And on.

It also brings to mind an old line. To wit: You can’t play boxing. But you can play politics. Turns out, Benavidez is playing them very well.

In the ring, I’m not sure he could beat Canelo, at least not right now. But he’s winning the argument in terms of support that continues to grow in the wake of his unanimous decision over Caleb Plant on March 25 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

His performance was not his best. At the post-fight news conference, the Phoenix-born fighter said: “I could have done better.’’ His long-time fans have seen him better.

Since the 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 cards were announced, however, it’s become increasingly evident that the victory on Showtime was, far and away, his biggest. It boosted his celebrity and credibility like no other bout on his 27-fight resume.

It was also the latest step in his stubborn march forward, always forward. It affirmed his credentials in the ring and signaled some newfound power at the box office.

Who knows about the pay-per-view numbers? They don’t mean much anymore, not during an era when so many are armed with the decryption tech needed to rob the telecast.

But he and Plant did sell out 13,865 available seats at the Grand Garden Arena on a busy weekend in Vegas. The NCAA Basketball Tournament and Taylor Swift were in town.

Canelo and Eddie Hearn had long argued that Benavidez wasn’t worthy. They said he hadn’t fought anybody. It was another way of saying nobody really knew him. But that roaring crowd a couple of weeks ago said something else.

They do know him and they like what they see. Increasingly, they’re buying Benavidez and not the tired Canelo/Hearn argument. I’m not sure exactly what Hearn and Canelo will say next. But it might be hard to hear them

Even fighters, active and retired, are beginning to amplify the public sentiment. Ex-heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder, who was at ringside March 25, said Benavidez would be too big and strong for Canelo, the undisputed super-middleweight champion.

Then, there’s retired, multi-division champion Juan Manuel Marquez. He’s questioning his fellow Mexican legend publicly.

“I’m going to give my point of view: As champion I would show the world that, if Benavidez hasn’t had opponents like me, then it would be an easy fight, because I show that he is not an opponent that is at my level and I can beat him,’’ Marquez told Mexican media. “I am at a higher level and I will show you that you will not beat me.”

That, and more, sets the stage for loud echoes from Benavidez’ victory over Plant and his growing fan base on May 6 in Guadalajara, where Canelo fights John Ryder for his first bout in his homeland in more than a decade.

A month before opening bell, the criticism is already there. But it’s short-sided. Amend that. It’s unfair.

Canelo, who hasn’t fought since a trilogy victory over Gennadiy Golovkin in September, is coming off surgery on his left wrist. He should test it in a tune-up. He’d be stupid if he didn’t.

But what happens after that is fair game. If all goes well against Ryder, Canelo is already on record as saying he’ll fight Dmitry Bivol next September in a rematch of Bivol’s stunning upset of him at light-heavyweight.

The Bivol plan is loaded with potential complications. It’s still not clear whether Canelo would fight him again at light heavyweight (175 pounds) or at super-middleweight (168). If it’s 168, Canelo’s titles would be at risk.

There’s a reasonable argument that Canelo can’t beat him at either weight. One-seventy-five or 168, Bivol will still be the much bigger man at opening bell.

At any weight, the bout would resurrect the argument about Bivol’s Russian citizenship. For as long as Russians are killing Ukrainians in Putin’s unprovoked war, Ukraine will demand that all Russian athletes be banned.

Bivol – promoted by Hearn, who also promotes Ryder — was a gentleman with no political comments before and after his first fight with Canelo in Vegas.

Yet, the Ukrainians, including Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, condemned the decision that allowed him to fight. If there’s a rematch, further condemnation is sure to follow, especially in the wake of a World Boxing Council decision to ban Russians from its rankings.

Why risk the controversy and another loss to a Russian who wouldn’t bring as many fans as the unbeaten Benavidez, a Mexican American in perhaps the biggest Mexican American-versus-Mexican fight since Oscar De La Hoya-versus-Julio Cesar Chavez?

It’s just another question. But if you’re taking a poll, the guess here is that the majority would say don’t take the risk. Just go straight to the Benavidez-Canelo option. More money, more interest, is there than in Bivol-Canelo. Barring a crazy miracle from Ryder, the belts would still be there, too.

“If he wants to go with Bivol, then I think what’s going to happen is, maybe — because I’ve been the mandatory for the past three fights for the WBC belt, I think maybe he’ll get stripped of that,’’ Benavidez, a former two-time WBC champion, said Wednesday on The DAZN Boxing Show. “And I was hearing some talk saying he might get stripped of the WBA belt, too, if he doesn’t accept a fight with me.

“If he doesn’t get in the ring, it might be me versus David Morrell or me versus (Jermall) Charlo for the WBC and WBA belt. So, even if you take Canelo out of the equation, these are still huge fights for me. This is still my dream I’m chasing after. The WBA belt is a belt I’ve never had. I want to get the WBC back again, so I’ll be three-time world champion.

“That’s really all I’m in it for, I’m looking for these belts. There’s big things on the way.’’

Call it a good political jab. It’s landing, landing in a big way.

Benavidez moving up, but still not into Canelo’s immediate plans

By Norm Frauenheim –

David Benavidez gained name recognition and some first-time recognition in pound-for-pound ratings with his victory over Caleb Plant, but he has yet to move into Canelo Alvarez’ plans for at least the next year.

Alvarez, who picked Benavidez to beat Plant, remained unmoved about whether Benavidez would be an option in a year when he’s scheduled to face John Ryder and plans for a rematch with Dmitry Bivol.

“I don’t say no to any fight,’’ Canelo said during a media workout in San Diego Wednesday, four days after Benavidez’s unanimous decision over Plant at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “But I have goals this year. Then, we’ll see.”

Benavidez continued to call out Alvarez after his 117-111, 116-112, 115-13 scorecard victory over Plant, who Canelo beat in an 11th-round stoppage in 2021.

Showtime, which televised Benavidez-Plant on pay-per-view, will replay the bout this Saturday (April 1, 11:05 pm ET).

“He has to give me that shot now,” Benavidez said after a victory for a so-called mandatory shot at Canelo, the super-middleweight division’s undisputed champion. “That’s what everyone wants to see.’’

However, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) also conceded that Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs), boxing’s pay-per-view leader, has options. For now, at least, it sounds as if Benavidez won’t be one of them until next year.

If all goes according to plan for Canelo, he’ll come out his of tune-up against Ryder in hometown Guadalajara with his surgically-repaired wrist intact.

Then, he’ll face Bivol, perhaps in September in hopes of avenging his stunning loss by unanimous decision to the Russian light-heavyweight champion last May.

It’s still not clear whether Canelo would fight Bivol again at light-heavy, 175 pounds, or negotiate a deal to face him at 168, which would put his super-middleweight titles in jeopardy.

There’s widespread doubt about whether Canelo can beat Bivol at any weight. At opening bell, Bivol would still be the much bigger man, regardless of the weight class.

If Bivol takes his super-middleweight belts, the reason for a mandatory goes away.

Still, there’s a ripening rivalry between Benavidez and Canelo. Benavidez-Plant proved to be dramatic, mostly because of anticipation that was heightened by a constant stream of trash talk. It was over-the-top, often tiresome. But it worked.

Also, Canelo-Benavidez looms as perhaps the best fight in the Mexican-versus-Mexican American rivalry since Julio Cesar Chavez-versus-Oscar De La Hoya.

Canelo has been Mexico’s most popular fighter for more than a decade. Benavidez’ popularity among Mexican-Americans continues to grow. He grew up in Phoenix. A lot of people from his old westside neighborhood were in the MGM Grand crowd, a big part of a sellout on a busy Vegas night when Taylor Swift was in town.

Benavidez lives near Seattle now. But his Phoenix roots are evident. The desert city’s name was stitched across the back of his trunks against Plant.

Last May, there were doubts about the Benavidez-Canelo possibility. After Benavidez blew out David Lemieux last May in Glendale – a Phoenix suburb, his manager/promoter Sampson Lewkowicz said it would never happen.

“A fantasy,’’ Lewkowicz said then.

But Lewkowicz has changed his mind.

“I have, because I don’t think Canelo has anywhere else to go,’’ he said after Benavidez-Plant. “Ask the fans.’’

They spoke, spoke loudly last Saturday. Now they’re asking:

When?

Only Canelo can answer that one.

CANELO VS. RYDER – SAN DIEGO PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Canelo Alvarez
“The press conference in Guadalajara was an unbelievable moment for me because I saw my grandma, my dad, my mom, my brothers, my family there. A lot of media guys I saw when I started boxing. For me, I feel very proud and happy to bring this fight to Guadalajara and give the people some of the experience I have in other places as the best in the world.”

“I think it’s the perfect time. A long time ago I wanted to fight in Guadalajara, but I think this is the perfect moment, the perfect fight to bring to Guadalajara.

“I’m so excited to show everybody they’re wrong. I feel very good. I have a lot of years in my career; 17 years as a pro. I’ve had injuries too. I’m not at my best but I’m very motivated and I’m very happy to be in the gym, to train at 100 per cent, and they’re going to see what is coming. I’m very excited and motivated. Be careful with that.

“He [Ryder] has everything to win, nothing to lose, right? He’s always there, fighting with the good fighters trying to get that opportunity, and now he got it. It’s going to be a danger for me, but I feel good.

“It will be one of the best moments in my career for sure. The fight with Billy Joe Saunders in Dallas was amazing, one of the most enjoyable fights I’ve ever been in. I think in Guadalajara it will be the same or even more.”

John Ryder
“It’s a great opportunity that has not been gifted. I’ve worked hard at this for years. Like you said, I’ve suffered the highs, the lows, the bottom of the barrel, really. I’d like to take time to thank you, Saul and Eddie, for making this fight happen. Charlie, for working tirelessly back and forth with you to get the deal done. And three, it’s right what [Charlie Sims] said about my trainer Tony Sims, he can’t be here because of the schedule.

“We’re all in big fights and Tony’s been a rock in my career and someone that’s brought me back from the bottom and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and I thank him for that. I also thank the family and friends, you, Charlie, for sticking by me and livening me up at times. Down to my mom and dad, my partner, and you know what, down to myself because if I give up on myself then I won’t be here. I’ve dug deep, I’ve done what I’ve had to do, I’ve worked hard to get back into this mandatory position, took the right fights at the right times, and I’m just really pleased to be here.

“Obviously the decision went against us in 2019, then the Covid times hit, which really messed everything up, but like you say, and I truly believe, timing is everything in this sport. It waits for no man, but the timing is right for me now.

“I’m not here for a holiday and I wouldn’t bring the team with me, have the team around me that I have if I didn’t believe I could win. I’m going, leaving no stone unturned, putting everything in this camp and truly believe I can come away victorious on May 6.”

Eddy Reynoso
“I’m super happy, proud to go back to the place, the home that made Canelo the boxer that he is and made me the trainer that I am. We are going to come back with our hand raised. We’re not going to let down, we’re not going to retire. It won’t be an exhibition fight, we’re going to return with all four belts that he came with, and that’s something that we’re going to do with pride. We also just really want to put on a good show for the fans.”

“He had a great rehabilitation for his hand, and we’ve been working hard. He’s at 100% and this is going to be a huge 2023. He’s going to go up against lots of challenges this year in his career and we’re excited for what’s to come this year.”

“It’s going to be fantastic; it’ll be an entirely full stadium. There is a saying that ‘you aren’t always a prophet in your home’. Canelo will change that. He will be a prophet in his home, he will fill the stadium. I am very proud to return as winners outside of Mexico from all the fights we’ve had outside of Mexico, but we want to share it and we will share it with the people of Jalisco. We just hope the people enjoy having their champion home again.”

Eddie Hearn
“Thank you for joining us here today at the incredible Petco Park, home of the Padres in San Diego. And thank you for the incredible team for letting us host a very special and important press conference here. The first thing I thought when I walked around here was, wow, we must do a Canelo Alvarez fight here in the Petco Park stadium. It would be incredible.

“But firstly, we have some very special business to take care of on May 6, Akron Stadium, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Canelo Alvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight world championship against John Ryder, live and exclusive on DAZN pay per view around the world, and we cannot wait. Sport is a business now, but this was something where business didn’t count. This was personal to Saul Alvarez and Eddy Reynoso. This was from the heart. This was an opportunity to bring an event back to his people. Regardless of the money, regardless of everything else, it was an opportunity to celebrate the sport, to celebrate his career in front of what will be 50,000 people in Guadalajara on May the 6th, Cinco de Mayo weekend. An event, an atmosphere that I believe you will not witness again in boxing.

“The whole world will be watching as he defends his Undisputed Super-Middleweight world championship against this man, John Ryder, someone that we’ve worked with for over a decade. He’s paid his dues in the sport. He’s had his ups and his downs and now he’s on a big up. Victories over Danny Jacobs and Zach Parker made him the mandatory challenger, the interim world champion, and someone that will come to Guadalajara with every intention to win. With a big heart, with lots of strength, and a chance to make history for Great Britain and become the Undisputed Super-Middleweight champion of the world.

“But in front of him, the biggest star in the sport of boxing, Saul Canelo Alvarez. The undisputed champion, someone that we’ve worked with for a long time, and I have seen fearless to challenges. There’s a lot of opinion in boxing, and what I see from Canelo and from Eddy Reynoso is a pure competitor. A winner, a legend of the sport, that he’s prepared to take on anybody. His last four fights have been unifying against Billy Joe Saunders, undisputed against Caleb Plant, stepping up in a fight that many say he shouldn’t have taken against Dimitri Bivol, and then Gennady Golovkin. The best resume in the sport of boxing, but now coming back off injury, still with a point to prove to some people, crazily, against a man that’s there to win it all on May 6. This is going to be a tremendous fight, a tremendous card, and I think that people here and particularly in Guadalajara should be very proud of Saul Canelo Alvarez and Eddy Reynoso for bringing this event to the people on May 6th live on DAZN. It’s going to be incredible.

Charlie Sims (manager of Ryder, and son of Ryder’s longtime trainer Tony Sims)
“It’s been a great experience doing this press tour. We had the pleasure of going to the stadium, look at the stadium, imagine the ring in the middle of the stadium, and what 50,000 are going to look like. It’s been great to spend some quality time with John as well just on this trip. One person I want to take this opportunity to thank who couldn’t be here because the schedules clashed was Tony Sims.

“Tony Sims is a trainer with John Ryder, he’s dedicated years and years to the sport and years and years of developing John into the fighter he is today. They’ve been through all the lows together and now this is the pinnacle. He’s going to face the best in the division, the undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez. I just want to take this opportunity again to thank everybody for making this event happen, but undoubtedly, we wouldn’t be here, me and John wouldn’t be here without Tony today, so I just want to take that opportunity to say thank you to him. And no doubt he is going to be extremely excited and extremely proud, come May 6 to face Canelo in the ring. He’s one of the best.”

An announcement on ticket sale dates will be made soon.

LIVE VIDEO: Canelo Alvarez vs John Ryder – San Diego Launch Press Conference

CANELO ALVAREZ DEFENDS HIS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST JOHN RYDER ON MAY 6 IN MEXICO HOMECOMING

Saúl Canelo Álvarez will defend his Undisputed Super-Middleweight title against John Ryder at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday May 6, live around the world on DAZN and DAZN PPV in the U.S & Canada – the first time in over a eleven and a half years that Canelo has fought in Mexico.

Canelo (58-2-2 39 KOs) defends his Undisputed crown for the second time after beating bitter rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their trilogy battle in Las Vegas in September, having ripped the IBF crown from Caleb Plant in Sin City in November 2021 with an 11^th round stoppage.

The Mexican superstar will make an emotional return to his homeland for his latest Cinco de Mayo showdown, and it will be 4180 days since he last stepped through the ropes in Mexico, when he stopped Kermit Cintron in Mexico City in five rounds to defend his WBO World Light-Middleweight title.

The 32 year old four-weight World Champion fights for the 63^rd time of his storied career as he closes in on 18 years as a pro. Cinco de Mayo weekend will see him fight for the 35^th time in his homeland and it promises to be a spectacular occasion with the state of Jalisco marking 200 years of independence.

WBO mandatory challenger Ryder (32-5 18 KOs) will be looking to spoil the party, as the popular Londoner travels to Mexico for the biggest fight of his 12-year career. ‘The Gorilla’ landed the WBO interim title in his last fight when Zach Parker retired on his stool after four rounds of their clash in London, England in November.

That win for the 34 year old followed a career-best victory earlier in 2022 over former Middleweight ruler and old Canelo foe Daniel Jacobs, with Ryder having also tackled three other Britons who have taken on the Mexican king, challenging Callum Smith for the Super-Middleweight World crown after fights with Billy Joe Saunders and Rocky Fielding.

“I feel really happy to be coming back in May because following my surgery, I was unsure of when I’d be coming back,” said Canelo. “Returning to the ring and coming back to fight in Jalisco, where I’m from, makes me especially happy. And in John Ryder, I’m facing a very competitive fighter.”

“There’s no denying that Canelo is one of the greats and I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s achieved in the sport but I fully believe this is my time fulfil my dream of becoming a World champion,” said Ryder.

“I’m not going over there for a holiday. For me this is purely business and my full focus is on going into his backyard in Guadalajara on May 6 and bringing those belts back with me to the UK. I want to thank the team, Tony and Charlie Sims and Matchroom Boxing for making this happen.”

“Canelo’s return to Mexico is historic for Mexican boxing,” said trainer Eddy Reynoso. “He is returning as an Undisputed champion, this is proof that a Mexican can succeed outside his country with discipline and love for his sport.

“I feel proud of all of this, because the dream of a kid who started in Guadalajara came true and he returns as a winner!”

“This is a moment that will be forever engrained in the history of boxing and Mexican sport,” said Eddie Hearn. “Canelo Alvarez defending his undisputed championship in his hometown in front of 50,000 fans will be an incredible sight and a night we will never forget.

“In John Ryder, you have a mandatory challenger that has paid his dues and off the back of big wins against Daniel Jacobs and Zach Parker is ready for the ultimate challenge. See you May 6 in Guadalajara for something very special, live on DAZN.”

“It doesn’t get bigger than Canelo in Mexico,” Joe Markowski, CEO North America, DAZN Group said, “Canelo returning home, John Ryder coming to spoil the party after big wins versus Daniel Jacobs and Zach Parker in 2022; this has the makings of a classic. Tune in to this historic event live on DAZN around the world and in Mexico for the very first time.”

An announcement on ticket sale dates will be made soon.

VIDEO: Eddie Hearn on Joe Joyce, Zhielei Zhang, Filip Hrgovic, Andy Ruiz, Canelo, Ryder, Bivol, Brook..etc