At this afternoon’s final press conference for Saturday night’s big showdown between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather Jr, both fighters took to the podium and gave their respective statements to the media in attendance, while thanking their supporters and sponsors alike.
Although most of the commentary was rehashed prefight verbiage, the pound for pound king offered a little more insight into what Canelo might be thinking, or more specifically not thinking, as to how one would possibly dethrone the pound for pound king of boxing.
“We had a beautiful training camp,” stated Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“The young champions who helped me get ready, I appreciate you guys. I’ve been here before so I know what it takes. I’m facing a guy who’s 42-0, but he hasn’t faced 42 Floyd Mayweathers or he would be 0-42.”
“So I don’t really worry about who he’s faced. Whatever any fighter can do good, I can do great. I was born to be here…I was born to be at this level. I’m at the pinnacle, I’m the face of boxing, and I’m dedicated to my craft.”
“It took hard work, dedication, prayers, belief, and a good team to get here.”
“On September 14th, it’s just another stepping stone…he’s just another opponent for me. But he’s facing Floyd Mayweather…and I’m just facing another opponent. It’s fight time, what can I say.”
“If his game plan is to bring pressure, I can handle it. If his game plan is to box, nobody can outbox me. You have to be able to outmatch me mentally, and I’m the strongest mental fighter in the sport of boxing.”
Several years ago, the late, great Emanuel Steward once stated that a fighter cannot think too much when facing a very cerebral fighter like Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The legendary fight coach insisted that the key to handing the artist formerly known as Pretty Boy Floyd his first professional loss was to fight instinctively and simply let his hands go.
Did the late Hall of Fame trainer really hold the key to handing Floyd a blemish on his perfect resume?
Is this the fight plan that Canelo plans to utilize in the ring on September 14th?
Perhaps the great Emanuel Steward was absolutely correct in his assessment.
For many of Floyd’s previous opponents, competing at the elite level is something quite foreign and can prove to be damaging mentally. Although Canelo has seemed unflappable in previous events, very few fighters are completely immune to the overwhelming environment that will surround them when competing on the biggest stage of boxing.
Almost two years ago, another young title holder cracked under the bright lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena. On September 17th, 2011, Vicious Victor Ortiz let the opportunity of a lifetime slip through his fingers upon succumbing to the pressures that come with facing Floyd Mayweather Jr.
With one emotional outburst, the hard punching southpaw from Garden City, Kansas, flushed his dreams of super stardom down the drain, and was subsequently knocked out by the pound for pound king.
Will Canelo be able to handle the pressures that come with a fight of this magnitude?
While many fight fans believe that the 23 year old fighter will finally be the one to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr for the very first time, no one will know for sure until the dust has settled on the light blue canvas…this Saturday night.
