The Japan Times - Mexican boxing legend Alvarez promises Crawford bout will be one of his 'best'

The 34-year-old became sole possessor of all the title belts at the weight for a second time when he beat IBF champion William Scull by unanimous points decision in Riyadh last month.

Crawford was at that bout and immediately threw down the gauntlet -- gladly accepted by Alvarez -- even though it means the 37-year-old American has to step up two weight divisions.

Alvarez, whose record is an impressive 63-2-2 with 39 knockouts, has been a world champion at four different weights, as indeed has Crawford.

"This fight is going to be one of my best fights in my history, in my record," Canelo said at a joint press conference with Crawford in Riyadh to get the promotional show on the road.

"I'm very excited and motivated because this is all about I want to make history."

Alvarez, whose two defeats have come at the hands of Floyd Mayweather at super middleweight in 2013 and then at light heavyweight to Dmitry Bivol in 2023, said he loved boxing but winning was primordial.

"For me it's very important to win this fight. I love boxing. I love winning.

"I'm a winner so I'm very excited to to be in the ring already."

- 'I won't be running' -

Alvarez, who had his first professional fight aged 15, said both pugilists needed to be in the same frame of mind on the night if it was to live up to its billing.

"I come to fight but you need to have both fighters think the same, right,"

"Because you know, this fight is big, and for me making history is my goal, my whole life."

Alvarez did not go down the trash talking route and indeed praised his opponent, whose record stands at 41 victories with 31 by knockout.

"Don't get me wrong, he's a great fighter —- but like I said, he's not Canelo," he said.

"He's one of the top fighters I'm going to face in my career, for sure."

Crawford for his part said fighting someone of Alvarez's stature was his long held dream and his "mega fight".

"He is the last great fighter from the era of Floyd (Mayweather), (Manny) Pacquiao, (Oscar) De La Hoya," said Crawford.

"We both came up in that era, and he was right there with those fighters and he got the chance to fight the Miguel Cotto's, the Floyd Mayweather's, and you know Triple G's (Gennady Golovkin).

"I wasn't able to get those mega fights, so this is my mega fight, this is my moment, and that's the reason why I want to fight an all-time great like Canelo."

Crawford added despite his respect for Alvarez he was in it to win the title and was confident he could prevail.

"However I got to fight, I'm gonna win, simple as that," he said.

"I'm not going to let somebody else force me or tell me how to fight when I've been fighting my whole life, you know, I won't be running."

The duo move on to further promotions of the bout to New York City on Sunday and Las Vegas next Friday.

Y.Watanabe--JT