Alfredo “Perro” Angulo & Saul “Canelo” Alvarez Predict No Running

LOS ANGELES—One thing is certain, Alfredo “Perro” Angulo will have a much easier time making weight when he meets Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on March 8, in Las Vegas.

Before thousands of cheering fans near Café Pinot, Angulo cut off his long black locks to donate to Locks of Love, a group that gathers hair for cancer victims undergoing chemotherapy. The crowd roared as a woman took hair shears and lopped off a good chunk of hair on Tuesday.

It’s Mexican versus Mexican when the two junior middleweights meet in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand during March Madness. Alvarez and Angulo are both declaring that running is not an option.

“All you have to do is look at my last fight on Youtube,” said Angulo. “I’m always moving forward.”

When reporters asked Alvarez the same question the cinnamon haired fighter replied, “I took this fight because I know Angulo does not run around the ring like in my last fight.” Alvarez was referring to his last opponent Floyd Mayweather, who handily defeated him.

Alvarez took the most criticism of his career for being unable to pin down the fleet Mayweather, who won nearly every round when they fought last September. It was a crushing moment for the youngster, who may have lost a few fans due to the poor showing.

During the introductions, it was Angulo who received the loudest cheers much to the surprise of the Golden Boy Promotions staff. Despite his loss to Erislandy Lara due to a severe abrasion to the eye, the Mexicali bomber had knocked down Lara twice and had proven he could match blows with the slick Cuban southpaw.

Angulo’s trainer Virgil Hunter said that whatever style Alvarez brings to the fight will be dealt with.

“I think this fight is going to go down to the last round,” said Hunter, who also trains Andre Ward and Amir Khan. “In this particular fight there won’t be any running.”

Guadalajara’s Alvarez seems eager to prove that when it comes to strength versus strength, Angulo will not be able to keep up. However, his trainers also know that whenever you pit two Mexican knockout punchers together, it’s a gamble.

“They don’t come any tougher than Alfredo Angulo,” said Eddy Reynoso, who trains Alvarez. “We expect a war.”

Golden Boy’s CEO Richard Schaefer expects both fighters to ratchet their intensity to kamikaze mode.

“For both fighters there’s a lot at stake,” said Schaefer. “It’s to prove who’s the best at 154.”

Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza says this fight will test Alvarez’s chin.

“Angulo is the hardest puncher that Canelo has faced,” Espinoza said.

World title fight

Also present at the outdoor media day held in the Central Library courtyard across the street from the old Golden Boy Promotions headquarters, fighters such as Leo Santa Cruz, Cristian Mijares, Abner Mares, and Ricardo Alvarez were presented.

Santa Cruz will be defending the WBC junior featherweight title against former bantamweight champion Mijares.

“Mijares is a great fighter,” said Santa Cruz, adding that he once helped Jose Navarro prepare for a title fight against the Mexican boxer from Durango, Mexico.

Ricardo Alvarez, 32, will be facing undefeated Omar Figueroa of Texas for the interim WBC lightweight title. He’s one of three Alvarez brothers that will be on the Las Vegas fight card.

“It’s the best fight of my life,” said Ricardo Alvarez.

Of all the fighters present at the media day Angulo seemed most anxious to discuss the upcoming fight as he stayed until every single writer and photographer was attended to. Just guessing but it looked like at least four pounds of hair was cut from his hair.

“I’m thankful that Richard Schaefer believes in me,” Angulo said.

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