CANELO ALVAREZ is preparing for his fight in New York and his first up at super-middleweight when he fights Rocky Fielding at Madison Square Garden on December 15.

He said, “It fills me with pride to be able to fight at Madison Square Garden. I’ve been wanting to fight there for years. To be in such a place where important people such as Muhammad Ali have fought is another landmark in my career. It is an honour to be at an arena like that.”

Fielding holding a ‘regular’ WBA super-middleweight title prompted his selection as Canelo’s opponent and the Mexican’s move up to 168lbs. “It would be a big landmark in my career to be one of fewer than 10 Mexicans to win a world title in three divisions. It’s a big challenge for us and an important landmark that I want in my career. I feel really happy for us [my team],” Alvarez said.

Coming off his victory in a rematch with Gennady Golovkin earlier this year and his confidence is rightly soaring. “Like I’ve always said, I’ve always considered myself to be the best and now more so than ever. I’m here because of that and because of that motivation to be the best. To be on the pound for pound list or not – that’s something that neither excites me nor upsets me. I’m just happy with what I’ve done and satisfied with what I am doing,” Canelo said.

Canelo Alvarez

He continued, “I’ve always said that words aren’t always necessary. I’m a serious person who doesn’t like to be talking or sending out messages to my opponents. I’ve always defined myself as being very serious in what I’m doing. I focus on getting in the ring and giving everything I have.

“Everything that was said about me and the attacks made against me as a person – well, I demonstrated what I’m really made of in my last fight. That’s the nicest feeling – to be able to shut mouths with facts.”