By Dan Ambrose: Canelo Alvarez started training camp today to begin the ten-week preparation for his fight against Jermell Charlo on September 30th.
The workout video that Jermell posted earlier today may have put a fire under Canelo, waking him up and making him understand that he need to get off the golf course and get to work.
Positive of Canelo starting camp now:
1. Work on his conditioning
2. Slowly building work rate
The negative beginning camp now:
1. Wear himself out by September 30th
2. Injury risk
Jermeell has a head start on Canelo, having begun his camp already, and he’s working out like someone that will not be denied.
Is Canelo focused?
Canelo has been seen playing a lot of golf with Patrick Mahomes, and his mind not be focused on boxing right now. Alvarez looks like he’s lost muscle from not exercising.
At least Alvarez will have a good excuse if he loses the fight to Jermell. He can blame it on his playing too much golf, and his sympathetic fans will give him a pass.
If Canelo has his mind on the Pro-Am, swinging the clubs and mixing it with other millionaires, he’s probably not going to be too motivated to put in the back-breaking work to get ready for Jermell, who is training to take his head off.
If he’s been focusing on his golfing game and ignoring his profession, it’s understandable why he’s thinned out.
Oscar De La Hoya mentioned recently that Canelo is playing a lot of golf, and it’s taking away from his game because he doesn’t have the tunnel vision needed to beat the fighters that are looking to dethrone him.
Charlo outworking Alvarez
Jermell (35-1-1, 19 KOs) isn’t playing around, as he’s training like a maniac, as he’s not just coming to win a decision but to score a knockout of Canelo on September 30th on Showtime PPV.
Canelo is going to need to put energy into his training because he can’t afford to gas out after three to six rounds like we’ve seen from him in his last three fights. It doesn’t matter that Canelo has been more active than Jermell in the last year.
Jermell Charlo in the gym over the weekend, training for the Canelo Alvarez fight on Sept 30th…
[🎥 @TwinCharlo] pic.twitter.com/uFigXdsC4n
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 17, 2023
He’s still repeatedly fading in his fights, and he’s going up against a fighter that is going to be in top shape, forcing him into a fast pace fight for the full twelve rounds.
If Canelo gasses out against Jermell, he’ll stop or beat him so badly that boxing fans will say he needs to retire after the fight.