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| Credit: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions |
Press Release: By DAZN – LOS
ANGELES (Sept. 18, 2019): Canelo Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) of
Guadalajara, Mexico and Russian warrior Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (34-3-1,
29 KOs) hosted a press conference today at Union Station in Los Angeles,
Calif. to formally announce their 12-round fight for the WBO Light Heavyweight
World Title. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas and will be streamed live on DAZN.
Below is what today's participants had to say at the
presser.
CANELO ALVAREZ, WBC, WBA, Lineal
and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion:
"I'm very grateful to all the fans as always. I'm very
motivated here, it's an honor for me to share the ring with a fighter like
Kovalev who I met in 2012. Now we're about to make history. I know it's going
to be the most difficult fight of my professional career. I will give the best
I have in the ring and that day we can yell "Viva Mexico."
SERGEY KOVALEV, Current WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion and
Three-Time Light Heavyweight World Champion:
"I'm very happy to be here back in Los Angeles. Thanks to God
and thanks to Canelo and his team for making this opportunity to get this
fight. I think this is a big test for me in my boxing career because this is
one of the best fighters in the world in boxing right now. I'm happy and I am
excited. Thank you very much for the support."
EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer and Manager
of Canelo Alvarez:
"Thank you to Golden Boy and DAZN - this was a very
difficult fight to make happen but the fight is now here. Only the big
fighters and those that leave a footprint become these type of fighters. We
know Kovalev well and we know the challenge that we are facing. He's a
great fighter that leaves everything in the ring and in one punch, he
could end the fight. And we know it's going to be a great challenge. We
want Saul to be a champion in four weight classes."
JOSE "CHEPO" REYNOSO, Trainer and Manager
of Canelo Alvarez:
"I'm nostalgic and cannot help but remember the beginnings
of all this. To look back and see everything-all the victories that
Saul has given myself and my son, and the future victories, makes me
happy. The Reynosos have been with Saul for over 15 years-ever since he
was a child. We trust that he will gain victory here."
BUDDY MCGIRT, Trainer of Sergey Kovalev:
"Both these guys are true champions. Canelo, I've always
admired you. Your trainers did a great job with you. I gotta admit that. I
really take my hat off to you for having the balls for taking a step up and not
having a catch weight and stepping up to the challenge. Sergey, I love you to
death, I respect you for accepting the challenge. In all honestly, the only
losers on November 2 are the people who don't want the fight or come to the
fight."
EGIS KLIMAS, Manager of Sergey Kovalev:
"I don't think this fight needs to be introduced. When you hear
the names Canelo Alvarez, Krusher Kovalev, it says all that's going to happen
on November 2. I don't need to talk about Sergey - everybody knows who he is in
boxing, and regarding Canelo, they know what they mean when they say
- grandes cajones."
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy:
"Canelo hopes to become the fourth Mexican to win a world
title in four divisions, with the only other ones being Erik Morales, Juan
Manuel Marquez and Jorge Arce. One big difference is that Canelo is at a
higher weight class. And this opens the possibility for many
more matchups, and bigger opponents with strong punching and star power.
When talking with Canelo about his career goals, he said he wanted to make
history, and fight the best. This is why we had to be very strategic and
thoughtful in planning out his next fight and while it may have taken a
bit longer than we wanted, we know that it was worth the wait. Canelo
has been preparing for this moment and we know that on Nov. 2 he'll write a
new chapter in boxing history by becoming the second Mexican ever to win a
world title in the 175-pound division (Light Heavyweight). Together with
DAZN, we're committed to making boxing more accessible and affordable by
giving fans the best fights - without the price tag of pay-per-view. Historic
fights are a hallmark of this company and Golden Boy continues to deliver
the biggest fights of the year. November 2 will be no exception, and we
expect a great performance by our champion, Canelo Alvarez, as he becomes the
new WBO LightHeavyweight World Champion."
"I'm happy to announce that with a major bout like this
one, the fans deserve the best undercard possible. Our next big major star in
the making, Ryan Garcia, will be fighting in Las Vegas. He's fighting Duno-it's
a fight the fans wanted and it's going to be a tough fight."
BERNARD HOPKINS, Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Business Partner:
"I know a little bit about history. And for Canelo to take
a big leap from 160 to 175, to dare to be great, to make history, anyone that's
not educated in boxing history, wouldn't know what I'm talking about right now.
But just in case you want to learn because it's never too late, it's very
historic to be in the position of Canelo. And to bite off challenges and
challenge himself and dare to be great to make history. As Oscar said, not only
Mexican history, but also boxing history. There's very few fighters who have
accomplished 160 to 175 and been successful. As you know, you're standing and
hearing from one right now. I have a personal feeling about making history
because I've been there and done that and now it's Canelo's time. I understand
what it's like to be in there with the Krusher. He learned that and I respect
that and I respect that to this day. Enjoy this historic fight and watch Canelo
Alvarez - who I call the Evil Knievel in boxing - who's taken on the best so
far and is now taking on the best at light heavyweight."
KATHY DUVA, CEO of Main Events:
"I want to give special thanks to Sergey Kovalev and Canelo
Alvarez - as a lifelong boxing fan, not just as a promoter. Unfortunately,
sometime around the turn of the last century, boxing began to lose its way.
Instead of building a legacy, avoiding unnecessary risk became the goal and to
this day, some fighters are praised for it. Competitions suffer because of
that. When we first met, Sergey was so adamant that he wanted to test his
skills against the very best. He wanted to find out how good he really was.
Canelo, you may have bit off more than you can chew, but that's okay. Great
fighters are not afraid to challenge themselves. And win or lose, history
will reward you for taking a risk. Congratulations Ryan, you will
not be the only spectacular young fighter on the card that night, because
also sharing that ring is another intelligent, well-spoken, absolutely
fantastic young fighter - his name is Evan Holyfield. And he is the son of the
great Evander Holyfield. I can't tell you how grateful I am to work with
Evander's son after all these years. You're all going to see him and meet him,
and I think you will all be thrilled."
RYAN GARCIA, Lightweight Contender:
"I want to thank the fans for coming out because it's a
weekday, you guys didn't need to come here. Thank you guys for coming. I'm
excited. The co-main event on the biggest card of the year. I'm so honored.
It's a big night. I get to fight the guy I wanted to fight most, Romero Duno.
They all said I was scared and I was worried about him and now I have the
chance to get my respect and show everyone I'm a real fighter. Everybody stay
tuned. It's going to be a big fight. Thank you to everybody for believing in me
and thank you to Golden Boy for getting the job done. Let's make
history."
JOSEPH MARKOWSKI, Executive Vice President, DAZN North
America:
"In one year's time, I believe we've managed to assemble
the best schedule in the history of boxing. Let's just look where we are:
Canelo vs. Kovalev - boxing's biggest star jumping up two weight classes; Ruiz
vs. Joshua II - the rematch of the biggest heavyweight upset in some year; KSI
vs. Logan Paul, bringing millions of new fans to the sport of boxing; GGG, back
in title contention from MSG; the list goes on for DAZN. To our subscribers,
you're in for a tremendous end to 2019 and tremendous year to come."
Canelo vs. Kovalev is a 12-round fight
for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title presented by Golden Boy, Main Events
and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, "THE OFFICIAL BEER OF
BOXING," Hennessy "Never
Stop. Never Settle" and Brand-New Grapefruit Crush, Knockout Flavor. The
event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las
Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.MainEvents.com
and DAZN.com. Follow on
Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA.
Become a fan on Facebook at
Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @Main_Events,
@SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using
#CaneloKovalev.
Material Courtesy of: DAZN/Photo Courtesy of: Tom Hogan
Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions Used with permission.
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