Undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell ‘Iron Man’ Charlo 35-1-1 (19) often goes against the grain.
It has been no different in his training camp for the biggest fight of his life, an ambitious challenge to WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 59-2-2 (39) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
While it is common for boxers to abandon the comforts of home and leave family behind when they go into camp, the 33-year-old Charlo says it is important for him to stay connected to his community when he is preparing for a fight.
“My training camp is in Houston and I want my camp to be where I’m relaxed at, comfortable at,” Charlo said. “I’m closer to my family. I got an 11-year-old daughter, I got a 14-year-old son, and a two-year-old running around the house. Those kids, they my teammates.
“The world don’t get to understand what we really doing. They don’t understand the dedication that’s put in on a daily basis. We on the grind. We chilling with the family… This is the point of camp. This the point of life. This is the point of dedication and determination that you gotta have.
“You gotta sacrifice a little bit, ’cause I’ll be hearing other fighters say ‘sacrifice’. That sacrifice that they talking about is not the sacrifice that they really meaning. Sacrifice from your family, your girl, and your kids, when you comfortable? Wake up.
“Don’t get caught into the ‘the word sounds good, so we gon’ say that’. You telling me not to be here for my son because I got a fight coming up? This don’t get put on hold. This gonna be every day. This is my motivation. This is my inspiration. They gotta grow up and realise what we on.”
Mexican superstar Alvarez, 33, also draws strength from his roots.
“I feel the love and support from my people and I’m proud to represent my country,” Alvarez said on arriving in Las Vegas. “I am 100% right now and ready to show you a different Canelo on Saturday.
“Charlo is a great fighter who knows how to box. He is strong and has nothing to lose. He came to my division to win it all. But I’ve been in this position for a long time and I’m ready.”
Underdog Charlo is out to prove him wrong.
“These fans think Canelo is the best in the world, but I’m going to come here and show that I’m the best,” Charlo said.
“I do this for the dogs, the hungry ones. I do it for the animals. I’m made for this. After I beat Canelo, the world will be screaming ‘Charlo, Charlo!’ You dig? Now it’s my turn, my time, my moment.
“I’m going to shine on Saturday night. We can’t talk about it, we have to be about it. Come fight night, you’ll all see what that means.”
