Click HERE for Photos
Photo Credit: Gene Belvins-HoganPhotos/Roc Nation Sports/Golden Boy Promotions
Watch Full Press Conference Here: https://youtu.be/DZq2QJLoc3c
Tickets on Sale Today 10 a.m. PT!
LOS ANGELES (August 25, 2015) – Reigning WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion, Miguel Cotto, and former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez, launched their four-city press tour yesterday in Los Angeles, at the Hollywood and Highland Center ahead of their highly anticipated championship showdown. The fight will take place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View. At yesterday’s event, Cotto, the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes, , and Mexican Superstar Alvarez were joined by their promoters and hundreds of pumped-up, chanting fans.
Tickets for the mega fight will go on sale today, at 10:00 a.m. PT, it was announced onsite, and are priced at $2,000, $1,750, $1,250, $650, $350 and $150, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com, mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.
Below is what their fighters and teams had to say.
MIGUEL COTTO: WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion:
“I don’t really care what the critics say. I am prepared to give Canelo a fight on November 21stand that’s all that matters.
“I’m not here asking for any sympathy. I know who I am and I’m here to be Miguel Cotto on November 21st and give the fans a good fight.
“I have my eye on my career and this is the best fight for my career right now, so I’m ready to do what needs to be done to be on top.”
CANELO ALVAREZ: Former WBC & WBA Super Welterweight World Champion:
“I want this to be an historic fight. I’m honored to be fighting a true warrior.
“It’s an honor and I’m going to prepare very well because I want to win this fight.
“There’s a great history between Mexico and Puerto Rico and this is going to be an historic fight, another one for the storybooks. I have a lot of pride to be fighting for my country. It’s going to be a great fight.
“I’m a disciplined fighter and a disciplined person and I think with that kind of drive I’ll be able to achieve a lot.
“I don’t like to predict knockouts, but I’m going to be ready for this fight. I will be well prepared.
“I’m a stronger, more mature fighter. For me, the time is right for this.”
MICHAEL YORMARK: President and Chief of Branding & Strategy, Roc Nation:
“This is the fight that the fans want. On November 21st we will have the ‘fight of the year.’
“Roc Nation and Golden Boy share a passion for creating the biggest fights in history. We want to give boxing fans what they deserve: a show of epic proportions.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“Boxing fans across the globe are waiting for a fight. It’s no secret that people were disappointed by May 2nd. The global fight community will be reignited by this fight.
“This will be one of the most exciting match ups. If I had to link this to one of my own fights, I would say that it is like my fight with [Fernando] Vargas. The same energy and passion will be evident here.
“Canelo doesn’t want to prove anything here. He just wants to knock Cotto out.
“The world is talking about this fight. The rich history between Mexico and Puerto Rico makes this truly exciting.”
FREDDIE ROACH: Hall of Fame Trainer, Seven-Time Trainer of the Year Award Winner and Trainer of Miguel Cotto:
“We have hard preparation ahead of us, but we will be ready and Cotto will win by knockout.”
EDDY REYNOSO: Head Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:
“When you talk about history, this fight will be mentioned as one of the great fights and these two fighters will be mentioned as two of the greats.
“Canelo is a fighter with a lot of discipline and a lot of heart.”
HECTOR SOTO: Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions:
“It’s not a super fight anymore, it’s a super event!
“This is a true classic fight. Puerto Rico vs. Mexico and on November 21st, Cotto will take Canelo to school!”
CHEPO REYNOSO: Manager and Trainer of Canelo Alavrez:
“Two warriors will be in the ring on November 21st and the crowd will get a war. The winner will be Mexico.”
MARK TAFFETT: Senior Vice President of HBO Pay-Per-View:
“This is a fight that we will all be talking about for years to come.”
MAURICIO SULAMAN, President of the World Boxing Council:
“When there is a Puerto Rican in the ring it’s guaranteed to be something exciting.It will be no different here.
“I believe Canelo has worked hard to get where he is. He’s very popular. He signs autographs. He’s very good looking, but when he gets in the ring, he’s a machine.
“When its Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, you know the blood is going to be boiling both in the ring and in the crowd.”
Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts and Tequila Cazadores. The Cotto vs. Canelo press tour is sponsored by JetSmarter. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Follow the conversation using #CottoCanelo.
It may seem strange that a life-long Floridian like Upshaw is the interim WBC Mediterranean super middleweight champion, but he proudly displays his second title belt (see accompanying picture with Upshaw and manager Si Stern), to go along with the Florida State middleweight strap he won in 2009, when he knocked out another unbeaten prospect at the time, Ahsandi Gibbs (10-0). Equally strange were the cheers he heard from the crowd that serenaded him with chants of “USA, USA” as he entered the ring with Florida promoter Dave Johnson waving an American flag as he led the team walk to Upshaw’s corner.