Canelo Alvarez Ready To RECLAIM The Throne | Mr. Verzace Podcast | Ep. 24

Canelo Alvarez returns to the latest edition of Mr. Verzace Podcast to preview his upcoming fight with Christian Mbilli.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:17

Welcome back to the Mr. Versace Podcast. I'm your host, Mr. Versace himself, Rick Reno, and joining me once again. Now we we're not in a snowstorm, we're not in New York City, we don't have our fur coats, we're in Cairo, Egypt, the face of boxing, former Ford Division World Champion, former undisputed super middleweight champion, former Ring Magazine World Champion, the Mexican superstar himself, Saul Canelo Alvarez. Thank you, thank you. And it's the long one of the longest intros I do. You've been out since September. You had elbow surgery after that. You're now back in the camp tuning things up. How does the body feel?

SPEAKER_00 1:04

Oh, it feels great. I've been in the in the gym for a month and a half now, and feels great. I did uh some of sparring already and feels great. Um I'm really excited for for the comeback.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

And you know, despite your last result, you have guys calling you out like in a line going around the block. Even Richard Schaefer's on the line, hoping to get in to get the payday. You got guys calling you out at middleweight, super middleweight, even cruiserweight that are like, we want to fight Canelo next. Uh you've seen this despite everything, you're still the hunted. Everyone wants to get into the Canelo sweepstakes, and I'm sure you're not surprised.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

No, I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised. And you can tell um everybody is looking for for the payday.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Right? But I'm glad. I'm glad because uh you can't tell I'm still the face of boxing.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Well, there's no doubt about that. You're back in action September 12th, in Riyadh, WBC Super Middleweight champion, Christian and Billy. He fought on your undercard last time out, Lester Martinez, which was one of the better fights that year. Uh, did you get a chance to see that fight?

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Uh I saw from my locker room that day uh like uh highlights. No, I don't see the whole fight, but uh they make a good fight. They're very tough fighters.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Did you watch any of and Billy before that? Was that the first time you were able to get the fight?

SPEAKER_00 2:38

That's the first time I I uh I watched him uh fight.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

And you know, you got like half the critics that are saying this is the perfect style for Canelo, and then the other half are saying, no, what what why do you know he he's he's gonna be out a year? Elbow surgery, why does he want to fight this punching machine that's gonna come in a hundred punches around? But this is the kind of guy you've been searching for.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

Yeah, you know me. I always try to fight the best out there. He's a champion, he's a danger fighter because he's uh very explosive. He calm and throw a lot of punches. But uh, you know, uh I enjoy that kind of fight. No, when when both fighters stay there and and throw punches. Uh I enjoy it.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

And this is the kind of guy you know you've been looking for, is someone that's gonna come in there and push you. Because last time you were in Riyadh, you had your running shoes on. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

It's very difficult when you you face fighters like um you need to chase them, you know, it's it's very difficult to make a good fight. Yeah. No, because it's a it's a good style, no. In boxing is hit and don't get hit, right? That's the the style. You know, that's the point in in boxing. But uh it's it's very difficult to make a uh a very good fight for for fans, you know. And the style of of Mick Billy is is he calm, he threw a lot of punches, uh, he never stepped back. So and and I love that kind of fighters. I love that kind of styles, and and I think it's gonna be a uh a great fight for fans.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

You know, and Billy almost, I don't know, for you might be different. He he reminds me almost a little bit, and I can almost picture a similar fight in my head, like James Kirkland. Yeah. Who came in and you know, that kind of style, and you were like, okay, you you what you let's let's stand and trade.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Yeah, I think Miguely think a little bit more than King Kirkland. Kirkland is the fighter, that kind of fighter just throw punches and go and go and go. No, I think Mikwili think a little bit more. Yeah. But yeah, it's is it's strong and go forward, throw a lot of punches, and and I think the styles the uh may fight.

SPEAKER_01 4:56

So um last time out we spoke, you said you want to reclaim what's yours. Is this the first step to reclaiming everything in the division?

SPEAKER_00 5:09

Ah, we don't know that. Uh obviously we always want to make the the best fights out there and and break records. And when I step in the ring, I always break records and that motivate myself. So, and we don't know. We 100% focus on this fight and and win this uh this fight, and then we'll see. But that's the the point is fight uh uh every single champion.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

Because you know, you say that I was thinking a couple of weeks ago, you were there supporting a former opponent who is now a good friend, Jaime Mungia, and I'm like, you know, he just won a piece of the super middleweight crown. And if you two are the last guys standing, it puts you two in an awkward position.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

No, I'm not gonna fight Mungia again. Yeah. No, we are in the same team. Um we like Mungia, he's a great person, and he worked very hard, and we won't we're never gonna fight aga fight again. Um you know, uh we're always looking for for for good fights, big fights, and I think it's other big fights out there.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Now, after your last fight, you know, some of the critics were out there and saying maybe age is finally catching up to Canelo. Maybe, you know, he's had this long career, he's accomplished everything that someone could accomplish, he's got enough money in the bank to buy buildings. Uh does any of that get to you, or you just push that out like I'll sh I'll show them in my next fight?

SPEAKER_00 6:44

No, I know, and I feel myself. I don't people talk every time, no, good and bad. And I know that they there is just opinions, no, because I feel great. I don't wanna say I'm I'm gonna show them because I don't really want to show anybody. I wanna show myself, no, and do and do my best every time I I step in the ring. But you know, people talk and that's fine. That's fine.

SPEAKER_01 7:13

I know at uh you know, not long ago you had said you were looking, and things change, to finish up your career by 37, 38 at the latest. Does the timeline move depending on what opportunities are presented to you and the motivation you feel for those opportunities?

SPEAKER_00 7:31

I always say I I always said uh like 37 is the time to go. Not because I feel uh like I need to go, no, it's because I accomplished everything pretty much in boxing and and I did a lot uh for my career and and that's it. But you know, is the motivation is still there and a discipline, I'm very disciplined, so uh that's that's a part. But uh the motivation is still there and and and we'll see. We'll see. My my my padrino, Turkey Alashi, don't want me to go, so we wanna see.

SPEAKER_01 8:14

You know, the priorities, as you know, for a fighter changes depending on the stage of their career. Is it more for you at this point? Is it about you know you've stamped your legacy, you your first ballot Hall of Famer. Is it now more of like a combination of business, just making the best opportunities for you? Uh what is it that motivates you the most to keep going at this point?

SPEAKER_00 8:37

No, keep breaking records, obviously, keep doing my best out there and the best fights, the best events, and obviously uh uh the best deals too, because uh everything comes together, and I think I need to to do the best deals, the best fights, and and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

You know, they always talk about guys uh you know passing the torch at some point. Is there anyone that you see there in the Mexican landscape that you could say there's a guy that maybe I could pass the torch to one day, maybe even someone who even works with your team?

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Uh I don't know. I don't know. Maybe uh in five years we can talk. I don't know yet. But I I hope and I will love to pass the torch to to to Mungia. Why not?

SPEAKER_01 9:33

And then you've got a good look at him now up close, and he looks like under you and Eddie, he's really transformed his style because he put on some performance in his last fight where people viewed it as a 50-50 fight, and he won just about every round.

SPEAKER_00 9:49

Yeah, he learned. He learned a lot, he listened, he worked very hard, and and he's a very good guy. So he deserved everything and he he he put everything in the gym. And you can you can tell. You see, you saw him in the last fight. He he did a lot of different things, so he learned a lot.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Does it uh did it make you almost proud you know that you're helping you know other guys coming up to get to this level?

SPEAKER_00 10:20

Not because of that. I always support Mexican fighters or talent from Mexico, and this is not an exception. Not even if he's now with my team uh working, I I support him. No, now as he's with my team with Eddie, and yeah, we feel proud uh of him. Uh we feel very proud of him because um he worked very very hard after everything that happened to him, you know. So we're proud of him.

SPEAKER_01 10:53

You know, the whole landscape in the division is has changed since your last appearance. You got guys like Hamza Shiraz, you have uh Iglesias, who's just captured a piece of the title. Have you checked any of these guys out? Do you see them as potential future opponents? I know at one point they were talking you and Shiraz. Obviously, you had to get uh the surgery, so it wasn't gonna happen either way. Uh have you checked these guys out and do they I I never check that.

SPEAKER_00 11:22

I think they need to fight each other, and then I find out the winner, right? That's that's the most smart thing they can do.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

So is it a case now of uh no more freebies, guys have to earn the payday?

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Yeah, I think they uh we all in some point need to we need to earn what we deserve, right? And they need to earn it, yeah. Why not? That's why you say they need to and I don't say they they don't deserve it. Yeah. No, they deserve it. That is why they are their uh uh champions or number ones or whatever. But uh they need to fight each other and then and then after my fight we we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

Now, last time we spoke, I know you of course were a little bit annoyed that Terrence Crawford wouldn't give you that rematch. And you know, I think he watched the interview, he then publicly went out there and kind of doubled down that he's not coming back. But every event I go to, Terence Crawford seems to be up there at uh ringside. You as a fighter, do you think he's eventually gonna get that itch?

SPEAKER_00 12:36

I don't know. I'm not in there in his shoes. Because we know the boss wants to see it again. Yeah you know that. I know, I know. I hope. I hope that fight happens again. That's what I hope. And I think will be amazing for fans, too, right? For everybody. It's a big fight. I hope that fight uh happened again and and and and I got my my rematch.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

But obviously there'll be, you're not in your position. You you can't wait on anyone. You're gonna make your plans and go forward with your career. Yeah, I'm not gonna wait for anybody. I'm gonna I have my plans already. And uh another one of your nemesis uh recently came out on the internet, Jake Paul, who also wants to get a Canelo payday. He uh had some, said there was some phone call, you wanted 200 million.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

What's the real story of what happened there? The real story was one of my friends was in Korchevel. In Korchevel, and he Jake Paul. And maybe he said, Oh, I'm a friend of a Canelo, whatever. And I was with my with my my little daughter, and I saw the face FaceTime of my friend, and I just answered and was J. Paul there with him. So, and he started talking, oh, I'm respect you and this and that, and I'm oh yeah, I have nothing against you too, right? I don't really care about anything. So, and he said my friend starts saying 200 million, 200 million, 200 million, and I I just say anything because I don't I don't really care about that fight, really. And I don't say anything, I just laugh and and and I say, no, I respect you too, and I don't have I have nothing against you, and that's it. That was that's the story. That's the story, but I think look, what I what I realize that in every single event, they need to talk about me to sell tickets and pay-per-view. Every fight is other fights there, and they always talk about Canelo. Canelo and this, and I wanna fight Canelo. And and uh because they don't they don't sell tickets, they don't sell pay-per-view, they need to they need to mention mention my name. And I think Gabe Paul don't don't sell uh so much tickets for the fight he has with the with his company or I don't know. And that's why he bring that situation, that the 200 million. But I look, it's fine.

SPEAKER_01 15:19

I just laugh, I'm not worried about anything. Were you a little surprised that you know when you came there to support uh Hami Mungia at the last event that pay-per-view closed with being called out Canelo and it's a cruiserweight fight, and you're at super middleweight, but they're calling for Canelo next.

SPEAKER_00 15:35

Yeah, like I say, everybody wants the payday. And everybody's calling me out seeing from maybe uh cruiserweight to all the way to flyweight, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

Is super middleweight, is this where you're here to stay, or would you still consider 175 maybe obviously another fight that the boss would like is a bival rematch if and when that could happen?

SPEAKER_00 15:59

Yeah, um the the the point is to stay in 168 because for me is is my weight class. It's not really my weight class, is I'm I'm too sure for that weight class, but I feel good. So and yes, if I go to 175 is is to fight Bival. So is that like Or maybe he calmed down?

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Well he has talked about you know going to 68 as well. Yeah, we can see that that farm. Now you're gonna probably be in action probably one time this year due to injury and circumstances. Would your goal be in 27 to at least have two outs? Uh I don't know. To be honest, I don't know. Because Cinco de Mai was missing you.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

Yeah, I know. I don't know. I don't I'm no I cannot tell right now. Uh but I kind of feel like I want to fight um this fight in September, in September and then fight really quick, like maybe December or February.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

So you'd you would be motivated to return that quickly if you can.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:11

And would it be, I guess, the biggest fight available, or would you want another champion versus champion?

SPEAKER_00 17:18

Uh I don't know. I don't know. I'm just talking right now. I don't know. I'm focusing 100% on McBilly, and then we'll see. But uh I feel like uh I want to fight quick after that fight.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

From what you've seen of M Billy, what does he bring to the table that you may not have seen from past opponents? Because he he he does present a different style.

SPEAKER_00 17:42

He put a lot of pressure and he's strong, he threw a lot of punches, good combination. Uh um and and he's young, so uh it's gonna be a good fight because the styles uh is a perfect combination for a good fight.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

I know that you know sometimes you analyze your opponent, you your the computer starts working for the first couple of rounds. With a guy like him Billy, it seems like you and Eddie are gonna be prepared for bombs away from the front. From the beginning, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:13

From the beginning. Yeah, yeah, I know that. And I'm I'm I'm gonna be ready for for for that too.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

And in closing, I wanted to ask, what should the people expect from the return of Canelo on September 12th?

SPEAKER_00 18:30

Oh, my best. Uh because I'm very motivated to come back. Uh for me, uh, very few times I take a year off. So um I'm I feel like I'm 50 years old. So it's gonna be a good fight. The style of Migbili is gonna be uh a great fight, I think.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

And you heard it from the champ himself, the face of boxing, Saul Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring September 12th, live and exclusive on the zone, challenging WBC Super Middleweight champion Christian and Billy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. See you there.