Final Words: Canelo vs. Khan
Photos: Hogan Photos/Golden Boy
WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and British top fighter and former two-time world champion Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) met today for one final press conference at the Kà Theater in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas ahead of their middleweight championship mega-fight showdown on May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena, which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s final press conference:
CANELO ALVAREZ, WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion:
“There’s not too much more left to say, the fight is here. I just want to thank each and every one of you for your support and promotion of this fight. I’m very happy with the work I have done. Khan is a very fast, very elusive, and very tricky fighter, but I am happy with the work I have done and I am ready to go in the ring and break him down. And again, I am much honored to be opening T-Mobile Arena. Come Saturday, I’m excited to yell, ¡Viva Mexico!”
AMIR KHAN, Former Two-Time World Champion:
“On Saturday you will see the best of Amir Khan. Canelo is a great champion who is dedicated to the sport of boxing, but it is my time and I’m going to grab it with both hands. It’s been my dream to hold a great fight like this in Las Vegas. And, you never know-this could be the last fight between Canelo and I here in Vegas if Donald Trump is elected president.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“It’s great to be beside a fighter who dares to be great. Amir is a hard worker, not only an Olympic silver medalist, but here is a fighter who is a multiple weight world champion, always asking for the big fights and never getting them. Guess what? He’s now here facing the top fighter in the world, and he’s ready for it and excited to face him. Whoever thought that Muhammad Ali could knock out George Foreman? I just talked to Foreman and people were praying he didn’t hurt Ali and look what happened there.
“There’s a reason Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao didn’t want to fight Amir Khan because he possesses skills like no other. He may come in as the underdog, but he also comes in as huge favorite to those who know the sport and to many of those who have seen him fight.
“Canelo is a great fighter and has accomplished so much at 25 since beginning to fight at the tender age of fifteen. This match up will be truly incredible to witness, and the fans will be in for a great night come Saturday. “