SAN ANTONIO, TX - Although the biggest fight of the year between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez will be held at MGM in Las Vegas, NV, San Antonio fans were able to see their favorite boxer without making the 1,275 mile trip.
Thousands of boxing fans lined the street outside of the historic Alamo today for stop number nine of eleven for “The One: Mayweather - Canelo” press conference tour. The two fighters were in Houston, TX earlier Monday afternoon.
Before the press conference could even begin many people had already begun criticized the location of the conference. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson says events like this desecrate the historic Texas shrine.
“There are people that have their own agendas. Maybe someone is just doing something to get his name out there before he runs for re-election” said San Antonio boxer Jesse James Leija, “I’m not going to say its better or we should or we shouldn't but it’s kind of ironic that he’s now speaking on certain things.”
Jerry Patterson has served as the Texas Land Commissioner since 2003 and is expected to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2014.
As a black SUV carrying Álvarez and his team pulled up to the red carpet a lot of confusion was in the air. Word came in that Floyd Mayweather’s plane was delayed and he would be running late. It was also announced that Oscar de la Hoya and Canelo Álvarez would begin the conference without him.
“At six o’clock the press conference was supposed to start, that’s why I’m here at six o’clock”, Canelo said, “Because I respect you, because you guys respect boxing.”
“[Mayweather] thinks all the boxers have to respect him and he intimidates everybody, but he doesn’t intimidate me”, Canelo would say to a cheering crowd, “I was born to fight.”
When asked what it’s like to be back in San Antonio after fighting inside the Alamodome only months ago Canelo said, “Last time I was treated like I was in my home, that’s why I feel like I’m at my home”
Mayweather, who finally arrived at the Alamo at 7:45 pm, apologized to fans for his tardiness, “First off I wanna thank all the media, the reporters, the fans – without San Antonio, Floyd Mayweather would not be where he is today.”
After working the crowd with the typical “hard work, dedication chant”, Floyd expressed his confidence in coming out victorious September 14th. To close his stage time Floyd told everyone, “I’m gonna sign a lot of autographs and take a lot of pictures because I’m late.”
Behind the stage the media gathered to talk to Floyd and Mayweather Promotions CEO, Leonard Ellerbe, when asked about the possibility of bringing one of his five remaining SHOWTIME fights to San Antonio, Floyd simply said, “Hopefully, only time will tell.”
Mayweather signed a contract with SHOWTIME Boxing to do a total of six fights in 30 months at the beginning of 2013. Most expect Floyd to hang up the gloves but Mayweather told fans, “After my five more fights, guess what? When I’m 49-0, we may stay a little longer.”
Author: Stephen Sanchez
Follow: Twitter @StephenSanchez_
Website: http://www.saprosports.com
Thousands of boxing fans lined the street outside of the historic Alamo today for stop number nine of eleven for “The One: Mayweather - Canelo” press conference tour. The two fighters were in Houston, TX earlier Monday afternoon.
Before the press conference could even begin many people had already begun criticized the location of the conference. Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson says events like this desecrate the historic Texas shrine.
“There are people that have their own agendas. Maybe someone is just doing something to get his name out there before he runs for re-election” said San Antonio boxer Jesse James Leija, “I’m not going to say its better or we should or we shouldn't but it’s kind of ironic that he’s now speaking on certain things.”
Jerry Patterson has served as the Texas Land Commissioner since 2003 and is expected to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2014.
As a black SUV carrying Álvarez and his team pulled up to the red carpet a lot of confusion was in the air. Word came in that Floyd Mayweather’s plane was delayed and he would be running late. It was also announced that Oscar de la Hoya and Canelo Álvarez would begin the conference without him.
“At six o’clock the press conference was supposed to start, that’s why I’m here at six o’clock”, Canelo said, “Because I respect you, because you guys respect boxing.”
“[Mayweather] thinks all the boxers have to respect him and he intimidates everybody, but he doesn’t intimidate me”, Canelo would say to a cheering crowd, “I was born to fight.”
When asked what it’s like to be back in San Antonio after fighting inside the Alamodome only months ago Canelo said, “Last time I was treated like I was in my home, that’s why I feel like I’m at my home”
Mayweather, who finally arrived at the Alamo at 7:45 pm, apologized to fans for his tardiness, “First off I wanna thank all the media, the reporters, the fans – without San Antonio, Floyd Mayweather would not be where he is today.”
After working the crowd with the typical “hard work, dedication chant”, Floyd expressed his confidence in coming out victorious September 14th. To close his stage time Floyd told everyone, “I’m gonna sign a lot of autographs and take a lot of pictures because I’m late.”
Behind the stage the media gathered to talk to Floyd and Mayweather Promotions CEO, Leonard Ellerbe, when asked about the possibility of bringing one of his five remaining SHOWTIME fights to San Antonio, Floyd simply said, “Hopefully, only time will tell.”
Mayweather signed a contract with SHOWTIME Boxing to do a total of six fights in 30 months at the beginning of 2013. Most expect Floyd to hang up the gloves but Mayweather told fans, “After my five more fights, guess what? When I’m 49-0, we may stay a little longer.”
Author: Stephen Sanchez
Follow: Twitter @StephenSanchez_
Website: http://www.saprosports.com