Alvarez promises Crawford bout will be one of his ‘best’

RIYADH: Mexico´s undisputed super middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez promises his title bout with Terence Crawford in Las Vegas on September 13 will be one of the legend´s "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." 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.