By Max Schramm: Canelo Alvarez reacted with amusement when reminded that Andre Ward predicts a victory for Caleb’ Sweethands’ Plant this Saturday night in their fight on Showtime pay-per-view.
(Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME)
Canelo first assured the media that he would win on Saturday and then said that Ward might want to come out of retirement and face him.
For the record, the still young 37-year-old ‘SOG’ Ward retired four years ago after defeating Sergey Kovalev in their rematch in June 2017. Ward isn’t expected to ever come out of retirement, even for a massive payday against Canelo.
Ward has given Plant tips on beating Canelo, and there’s a lot of interest from boxing fans in wanting to know what he told him. It’s no mystery what Plant needs to do to beat Canelo since Floyd Mayweather Jr. already showed the method to beat the Mexican star in 2013.
Canelo says he’s improved, but we can only take his word on that because he’s stayed away from slick boxers since his close fight against Erislandy Lara in 2014.
“My emotions are under control,” said Canelo during Wednesday’s final press conference. “I can remain calm.”
It’s good that Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) kept his emotions under control on Wednesday during the final press conference with IBF super middleweight champion Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) because it would have looked bad if he attempted to get at him to land a blow.
Canelo, 31, struck Plant in the face with a right-hand slap during their press conference in Los Angeles, California, two months ago on September 4, causing a cut under his right eye.
The scar is still there from the slap that Canelo delivered. If Canelo had done the same thing today in response to being insulted, it would likely result in the contest needing to be postponed at a tremendous loss of money for the event organizers.
“We’ll see,” said Canelo Alvarez when told that Andre Ward is predicting Plant wins. “It’s going to be a knockout. Maybe he wants to come out of retirement to fight, but we’ll see,” said Canelo in speculating whether Ward wants to come out of retirement to fight him.
“I’m in love with my power. Watch. Making history is what I want. I’m excited. Only five fighters in the history of boxing accomplished being an undisputed fighters. I’ll be the sixth.
“He [Anthony Joshua] came to my gym and watched me spar, and he exchanged a couple of words, and that’s it.
“When I’m moving up in weight because losing too much weight for me because I lose too much power when I lose weight. In this weight class [168], I feel strong, I feel good. I still cut weight but not the same,” said Canelo.
