LAS VEGAS — There are few who expect anything less than a highly entertaining and competitive fight when Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs step into the ring to unify their three middleweight world titles on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
But just in case anyone needed a reminder, Jacobs handed one out when he was at the podium for the final pre-fight news conference on Wednesday inside the MGM Grand’s KA Theater.
“I’m gonna talk inside the ring and let my fighting speak for itself,” Jacobs said, before he turned to Alvarez, who was seated a few feet away.
“To Canelo: Let’s put on a good show, my brother,” he said.
There has been a good-natured buildup to the fight, the year’s biggest so far and Alvarez’s second on a five-year, 11-fight, $365 million deal with streaming service DAZN, but nobody should take their lack of antics or trash talk to mean they are not intensely motivated for a victory. After all, this fight will stamp the victor the world’s best middleweight.
“I just feel as if the thirst for this fight is at an all-time high. We are only three days away from a mega fight, and it’s such a privilege to be here right before this mega showdown,” said Jacobs, who will be making the first defense of the vacant 160-pound belt he won by split decision against Sergiy Derevyanchenko in October. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me, and I’m mostly excited to get in there to show the world that I am the best middleweight of my generation. I finally have an opportunity to prove it, to go against Canelo Alvarez. You guys are going to see fireworks, masterful boxing, skills, dedication, persistence and grit, most importantly.”
Jacobs also exuded confidence heading into the biggest fight of his career.
“My physical advantages in itself can win me the fight, but I also have the mental capacity,” said Jacobs, the bigger, taller, longer man. “I’m in my prime. I’m the only fighter Canelo has faced since Floyd Mayweather [in 2013] to be in his prime. I’m super confident, and I’m going in there with the ability as well.”
Mexico’s Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs), 28, of the star attraction on Cinco de Mayo weekend, won a pair of middleweight belts by disputed majority from Gennady Golovkin in September before a quick return in December to knock out massive underdog Rocky Fielding in the third round and take his secondary super middleweight belt.
Alvarez said his intention was always to return to middleweight to take on the biggest challenges, so he is back to 160 pounds to make his first defense against Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs), 32, of Brooklyn, New York.
“Look, we’re just ready for Saturday,” Alvarez said through an interpreter when it was his turn to speak. “I’ll repeat to you: I’m ready. I’m ready to continue writing history like I always have. I’m a fighter that’s fought all the styles. What he brings on Saturday night is going to bring the reaction out of me to counter whatever he brings. In boxing, anything can happen. That’s including the knockout. If it’s there, trust me, I’m going to go for the knockout. I don’t care if he’s bigger, stronger. It’s never bothered me. I have the capability. I have the experience to overcome that and more.”
If Alvarez wins, he has designs on going after the fourth belt in the division that would make him the undisputed champion. That would mean a fight with titlist Demetrius Andrade, but there is a stronger possibility of a third fight in September against Golovkin, as long as GGG wins his June 1 return against Steve Rolls.
Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s head trainer, made it clear what their side wants.
“We have a tremendous challenge in front of us, a tremendous champion in Daniel Jacobs, but this year, our goal is to sweep the middleweight division and win all four belts, and Daniel Jacobs will not obtain that goal,” Reynoso said.