Canelo Alvarez isn’t going to make significant adjustments at this stage of the game. He has had a lot of success doing things his way.
One change did make sense to the 168-pound champion and his team, however: A new, fresh location for his training camp going into his pay-per-view title defense against Jermell Charlo on Sept. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Alvarez has been training in Lake Tahoe, California, at an altitude of around 6,000 feet. He had been conducting camps in San Diego, which is at sea level.
“We always prepare 100% no matter where we are,” Alvarez said after a media workout Wednesday. “It’s different being here. At the beginning, I couldn’t breathe very well. But right now, I feel great. I’ve found a place that’s made me happy and strong. …
“I like being here in Lake Tahoe because I’m 100% focused. It’s just me and my team and we’re focused on the fight. It makes me feel ready for the fight.”
The fact he’s healthy is another reason he feels good about a tough matchup.
The Mexican star blamed subpar performances the past few years – a loss to Dmitry Bivol and uninspiring victories over Gennadiy Golovkin and John Ryder – on injuries, including a sore left wrist that required surgery late last year.
The wrist is fine now, which has allowed him to train without holding back.
“I feel great,” he said. “This is really one of the best camps I’ve ever had. I feel great to be able to train 100% now with my left hand. That’s made me more confident. When you train knowing that you’re healthy, you’ll be more confident in the fight.”
Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) insists he will look a lot like the dominating fighter of old when he faces Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs).
He’s only 33 years old, the same age as Charlo, but he has been fighting professionally for almost 18 years. Still, he believes he has a lot more to give in the ring.
“I still feel young and fresh,” he said. “I never think about the end of my career. I just train and fight year after year. I still feel that I’m at my best.”
