CANELO ALVAREZ, WBC Super Welterweight World Champion
“If I want to win this fight, I have to move fast. I have to watch out for Trout’s left. I’ve been studying his style and I can definitely adapt to it. It’s going to be tough, but I know I can beat him. I trust I have what it takes to beat him.
“On Saturday, after defeating Trout, I will raise my hand and my belt and will be thinking of my brother. That belt is his.
“I’m 100 percent ready for Trout. He’s a world-class boxer and an undefeated world champion.
“I’m thankful to the people of San Antonio. They give me great motivation and they have an amazing energy.
“I’m very grateful and happy to be here.
“I’m maintaining weight. I’m training hard. I’m ready.
“I’m visualizing the fight. I’m very focused and very determined. Saturday is going to be my night.
“I’d like to thank my fans for their support. I’m anxious to give them the show they want on Saturday.
“I’m excited to be part of all this. I feel motivated that Oscar De La Hoya is part of all this. It makes me happy to be part of his team.
“I’m the type of boxer that adapts well to other styles.
“When I step into the ring, the best of me comes out.
“I’m ready for Trout. I’m ready to not let my fans down. I’m ready to win.”
AUSTIN “NO DOUBT” TROUT, WBA Super Welterweight World Champion
“We just want to up the intensity from the Miguel Cotto fight. Even though they’re not the same fighter, they have similar styles. We want to up the intensity because Canelo is a bit more intense of a fighter than Miguel Cotto.
“He’s an all-around fighter and he doesn’t have many faults, but he’s not as strong in some areas as others and we’re going to exploit that. We’re preparing for the total package.
“Canelo’s a world champion so he has to have what it takes. They wouldn’t have given him the belt otherwise.
“I’m ecstatic to be the focal point of over 38,000 people. It’s wonderful. I really just can’t wait to be in that atmosphere.
“If Canelo’s not ready now, he’s never going to be. I’m excited to get in there and I’m glad he put his foot down to make this fight happen.
(On the public turnout at Wednesday’s workout) “It’s love. I appreciate all the love. They’re the reason that boxing is going to thrive for ages. It’s one of the oldest sports and it’s not dying anytime soon. This is evidence of it right here.
“Anything is possible. We’ve done things that people said couldn’t be done. I believe God does miracles everyday. I’m not saying it’s going to beat the man, but it can be done. Impossible is a mind state and I don’t have that type of mind state.
“My focus is to just be in shape. We know he’s going to bring it, so we want to make sure we can up the intensity when we need to.
“I don’t think it’s going to be difficult at all fighting in front of these fans. It’s the opponent that’s going to make it difficult. The crowd isn’t going to make it harder or easier. Canelo is going to make it harder. So the crowd is not going to stray me or bother me one bit.
“My hometown is really divided being that it’s a mostly Latin area, but we have a lot of support coming from Las Cruces. Mexican blood is thick and it’s hard to divide that. They’re the best fans to have. If I could have them adopt me as their own champion, I’d be ecstatic because they’re loyal and they fight for their guys. My whole goal is to just take that love and push it onto me.
“Canelo is a champion and he wants to please his fans. If his fans didn’t say that he needed to fight me to prove that he’s the true champion, then I don’t think he would have done it.
“My strategy is to win by any means possible. Whether it is brawling, boxing, moving, sticking there, staying there, whatever I need to do. We’re going to win.
“I want to be a legend in this game. I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder.
“I’ve been the underdog a lot. What they think doesn’t bother me. I think ‘underdog’ is a mind state. I’m here to win. I’m here to win decisively. What the odds say, what the people say, is not really going to affect what happens in the ring.
“I’ve prepared for it and the way I’m feeling right now in my heart and in my mind, that’s what is going to affect the fight.
“The formula is the same (as against Miguel Cotto), but we know they’re not the same fighter. Canelo is in his prime, he’s undefeated and he’s not battle worn. He’s still got a lot of pop and life left in him. Although the formula is the same, we have to up the intensity and we’re not treating him as the same fighter.
“I fought his style of fighter my whole life being from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and fighting around the area. I’m not sure if he’s fought my style, though and we’ll see the difference come Saturday.”
ABNER COTTO, WBC FECARBOX Lightweight Champion
“First, I want to thank the public of San Antonio for being here. Then, I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for giving me this opportunity. I’m so proud that I’m fighting at the Alamodome in front of over 30,000 people. It’s a true honor.
“It’s truly an honor to fight on the same card as Canelo Alvarez and Austin Trout. They’re both great boxers. It’s not going to be easy for Canelo. Trout is a tough fighter. After all, he beat my cousin [future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto]. To be honest, I don’t know who’s going to win. I’m not going to make a prediction.
“When I have to fight, I’m always ready to fight at my best.
“I’ll be representing my people from Puerto Rico on Saturday at the Alamodome and I won’t let them down.”
OMAR FIGUEROA JR.,
Undefeated Lightweight Contender
“I’m excited for the fight. This is what I’ve been waiting for. It’s a good match-up featuring two undefeated fighters. Neither of us has a blemish in our record.
“The main event is a super-mega fight, but I am going to do my best to give the fans their money’s worth.
“Right now we are just focusing on the last couple of pounds. The hard work is already done. We left all of that in the gym. We are waiting for the weigh-in and then the fight.
“I’ve been told that I’m going to have a lot of fans there. I’m not too far from home and I think that’s amazing. Fans get to come support their hometown guy and also get to see a great main event.
“I’m excited to fight in front of such a big crowd. I’m going with the flow and enjoying the experience.”
JERMELL CHARLO, Top Super Welterweight Prospect
“I’m so happy to come back to San Antonio. I really enjoy the boxing fans here. They’re so nice and excited about boxing in this city.
“I feel good. I’ve been training hard. I’m focused and I’m ready.
“This is my shot…my first real shot. This is my chance to show not only San Antonio, but also the boxing world, what I’m made of and what I can do.”
RAUL MARTINEZ, Top Bantamweight Prospect
“I’ll be in my prime in a couple years. I’m training very hard. This fight means a lot to me. It’s my chance to move forward.
“I’ve had tough times, but boxing is a tough sport.
“I don’t have a promoter right now, but I have a great trainer, Jesse James Leija. He’s truly an inspiration to me.
“It’s an honor to be here working out at The Alamo. I’ve been to workouts before, but none like this one. This is awesome. Being in front of my people is an amazing feeling.
“To me, if you go by what you believe and you put a lot of effort and pride into it, you will get something out of it.
“I look up to Jesse [James Leija]. He gives me energy and he motivates me. When we’re training, I want to show him what I have and what I’m made of. He makes me want to punch harder.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“This fight will truly show the world what Canelo is made of. This is the opportunity he has needed to prove himself.
“I can’t wait to be in that arena on Saturday night. With almost 40,000 people in the Alamodome, it’s going to be rocking.
“It’s just amazing the draw that Canelo is. At 22 years old, his following is unlike anything I have seen in a long time.
“This is going to be a tough, tough fight. Canelo has his work cut out for him. Trout showed what he is made of when he fought Cotto and he is going to have to bring that intensity and more on Saturday night.”
