Canelo: I'm in the running to be the best in history
These are busy days for Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez following the announcement he will square off with Gennady Golovkin for the third time on September 17.
Despite the frenzy of promotional work undertaken by the Mexican for the fight, he found time to speak with MARCA while in New York.
Canelo Alvarez: I'm in the running to be the best in history
Coming off a loss to Dmitry Bivol, Canelo's sights are squarely set on on taking down Golovkin, as he looks to etch his name alongside boxing's all-time greats.
Question: You are already preparing for the third fight of your trilogy with Golovkin. What do you expect from this battle?
Answer: This fight is very important for me because I'm coming off a loss. Everything revolves around this fight, he has talked about me a lot and I am looking forward to getting back in the ring and ending Golovkin's career.
Q: Have you ever been to Spain?
A: Yes, to Madrid and Barcelona. I was in Madrid for an operation and I really liked Barcelona.
Q: You are a boxer that is obsessed with winning.
A: To be part of something like my sport or any other sport, to be obsessed with winning... that's the only mentality you can have. Obviously I'm obsessed with winning. Winning or losing is part of it, but you always prepare to win. That's the way I am.
El cara a cara de Canelo y Golovkin.
Q: How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm more motivated now because I'm coming off a defeat. Everything about my comeback motivates me a lot.
Q: You have the phrase 'No boxing, no life' tattooed on your head, but have you ever thought about what you would have done if you never got into boxing?
A: No. The truth is that I've never thought about it. I would have loved to be an F1 driver, or, now that I know about golf, a golfer. But the truth is that I was born to be a boxer.
Q: At what point did your career completely change? When did it become an unstoppable ascent?
A: I think that once I debuted as a professional it changed my life. That's when I said, this is what I want for my life. I dropped out of school, which I shouldn't have done, but I had to dedicate myself 100 percent to boxing and work because I couldn't do everything.
I had to work, train, go to school and I couldn't do everything. I had to get money to travel and train. When I debuted as a professional it changed everything and I said I am going to be world champion and one of the best.
Canelo atendió a MARCA.
Q: You talk a lot about how there are no limits, that it is a constant in your life. Now there's your climb to another weight division.
A: Look, the truth is that you have take a lot of risks, especially in the position I'm in. There's no need to do it, but I like that kind of challenge. I like different challenges. That's what gives me the adrenaline, the feeling of being alive.
As I said, if I don't want to do it, I don't do it. I'm in that position. Do you know what I mean? But I want to do it because I'm in search of greatness and that's how you achieve it. It's achieved by taking major risks. There's nothing to prove. I've done it my whole career, I've won a lot. I don't have to do things as crazy as I do, but I like it.
Q: How does it feel to be in a ring surrounded by 70,000 people chanting your name?
A: That feeling is the one that makes me think 'when I retire, that's the one I'm going to miss the most'. Going out, listening to the people chanting 'Mexico lindo y querido', listening to all the people cheering your name, it's very nice, an unexplainable feeling. When I go out, it makes my skin crawl. It's a great feeling.
Canelo, ante Billy Joe Saunders.
Q: Even if it is on North American soil, there are always so many Mexicans cheering for you. Is it like being at home?
A: I feel at home. There are a lot of Mexicans supporting me, they fly from all over to support me and that is very much appreciated. I try to compensate them with great fights and great victories.
Q: What goes through your mind when you knock out an opponent?
A: It's a unique feeling for everyone, for me and for the people. Winning by KO... you feel butterflies in your stomach, that's the truth. But at the same time it depends on how it goes down, so I worry a little bit. Unfortunately boxing is about hurting your opponent as much as you can, but you don't want to hurt him beyond a knockout, and then everything is fine. That's why at the beginning I worry, and when I see that everything is fine, I start celebrating.
Q: In 2011 you said you would be the best boxer in history, have you fulfilled your promise?
A: Not yet. I still have several years of boxing to go, but I'm on that path. I want to be one of the best, and without a doubt I am already there. Having taken those important challenges, I think I will reach a very important place in boxing history.
Q: Canelo in boxing, Checo Perez in F1... it could be a good year for Mexico.
A: It would be history for us Mexicans if Checo won the F1 World Championship. He is doing very well, I think it was the step he needed. He is a very talented driver and hopefully he will give us a World Championship.
Canelo celebra su victoria ante Caleb Plant.
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