Canelo Álvarez and Jermell Charlo Kick Off Media Tour In NYC

NEW YORK (August 15, 2023) – Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) and Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) kicked off their media tour with a press conference in New York. A separate press conference will take place on August 16 in Los Angeles, CA. The two will clash in a super middleweight bout on September 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Both will enter the fight as undisputed world champions. However, once the fight commences Charlo will cease being the WBO super welterweight titlist.

Big Fight Weekend was present at the press conference held at The Palladium Times Square and got to hear from both fighters as well as their trainers. Both teams were respectful of each other and expressed confidence of emerging victorious on September 30. Below are just some quotes from the press conference.

Press conference quotes from the trainers

Following comments from SHOWTIME Sports president Stephen Espinoza and TGB Promotions president Tom Brown, trainer Derrick James delivered comments:

“This is a fight that Jermell Charlo has always wanted. It’s the type of fight he’s needed to put him into super superstardom. Canelo is a great fighter with a great trainer and they’ve been so consistent over the years. It’s hard to do that in boxing.”

“It’s gonna take Jermell being the best version of himself. He’s gonna have to be focused in training camp and focused in the fight. He’s gonna get what he needs to get because of the focus he has and because he knows he has to be himself.”

Following James, trainer Eddy Reynoso commented on the event with Felix DeJesus interpreting:

“Here we are in New York, once again announcing what will be one of the best fights in recent memory. Styles makes fights, and I believe that both Charlo and Canelo possess the kind of contrasting styles that fans will love to see in a fight.”

“Charlo is a great champion and has a great trainer in as Derrick James. He is a great fighter with a big heart that has gotten up off the mat after losing, and that makes him even more dangerous. He lost, but he also redeemed himself and showed that you can redeem yourself to earn big fights like this one.”

Canelo-Charlo press conference quotes

Finally, it was time for the fighters to deliver their statements. Charlo went first and expressed his confidence of winning the bout:

“This is a long time coming. Canelo and Eddy are legends in the game of boxing. They’ve put on great shows and I want to be the one that gets in there and takes it all away from them.

“Me and my brother Jermall have been putting on for boxing and it’s our time now. A lot of people are worried about the wrong things. When you want to win something this big, you have to risk it all.

“I just want to quiet my haters and doubters and turn non-believers into believers. I’ve watched a lot of great people in the sport of boxing and now I think this is the best moment for me to leave my mark. With two great fighters in there, you get nothing but fireworks. When this fight presented itself, it was a no-brainer to make this happen.

Canelo followed Charlo and delivered similarly confident statements:

“Thank you to Jermell for taking this fight. I’m very happy to be in this position and to be in big fights. Jermell is a great fighter who takes on big challenges just like I do. I always take risks.

“Jermell is a great fighter and this is a fight that’s been out there as a possibility for a long time. Now is the correct time for this fight.

“I’m gonna put everything into the ring. My experience, my power and my skills. It’s going to take everything to win this fight, It’s going to be a great night for the fans.

“It’s good that people are saying I’ve lost a step, It’s fine. I know why I didn’t look as good in my last two fights. I know why and I’m different now. I’m preparing now for a different type of fighter.