We’re a month away from the fight. How is training going with your coaches, and what lessons are you taking from your sparring sessions?
"It’s going well, obviously. It’s pretty much the opposite of my camp for Lester Martinez, when we were coming off a long training camp and had less time to prepare. This time, we’ve arrived with our batteries recharged and our full arsenal, and you can feel that in the gym and during sparring."
Canelo Alvarez is clearly underestimating you. Does that give you extra motivation?
"I don’t know whether he’s genuinely underestimating me, in which case that’s good for me, or whether it’s simply part of the psychological warfare he wants to bring. But as I’ve already said, I’m not Jaime Munguia or Edgar Berlanga. If he’s expecting an easy night, he’ll be the first to pay the price.
"In any case, the result will be the same, because we’re preparing to impose my tactics, regardless of how he reacts."
Looking back on your "exile" in Quebec, what have been the most important moments you’ve experienced?
"In terms of achievements, winning the title against Poland’s Maciej Sulecki (by first-round KO in June 2025) has to be at the top of the list. Especially considering that the interim title was subsequently upgraded…
"But for me, it was also confirmation of why I came to Quebec in the first place: to train with Marc Ramsay and his team, which I believe is the best coaching team in the world. You’ll say I’m biased, but the other day I read that I was his sixth world champion, so I think the results speak for themselves."
When Eye Of The Tiger approached you more than 10 years ago and told you that you would be the future world champion, did you think they were crazy or visionaries?
"A bit of both (laughs). Even though winning a world title has always been the primary reason I came to America, honestly, you have to be a little crazy to believe in it from start to finish. Then, when I signed the contract in 2020 and moved up to super-middleweight, I think that’s when the path became clearer and Canelo entered my radar."
What areas have you developed over the past few months, particularly after your fight against Martinez?
"For me, the impact of the fight against Martinez (a draw in September 2025) was more psychological than physical. Obviously, I had competed at the Olympics, fought on American television and had big fights back home. But fighting in front of 60,000 people in Vegas, with tens of millions watching on Netflix, was something else.
"I saw it as an audition: I had promised the fight of the night, and I delivered it. But in hindsight, if I had put a little less pressure on myself and focused a little more on boxing than on the show, I think I could have put in a much cleaner performance. That’s why being able to fight on the big stage just before facing Canelo was worth its weight in gold."
What kind of fight do you expect from Canelo? The full Mexican style, or will he keep his distance more?
"We’ll see how he reacts, but as I said when the fight was announced, I believe it has the potential to be the fight of the decade. In any case, I’m going to bring the Mexican style.
"Historically, Canelo is rarely the one who backs up. Even in his defeats, he was often the aggressor. So, as Gennady Golovkin used to say, I’m expecting a Big Drama Show."
You’re on an upward trajectory in your career, while Canelo suffered a heavy defeat against Terence Crawford. Does everything start from scratch, or do you feel that if you land a shot, he may have fewer psychological resources than before?
"Of course. The man has nearly 70 professional fights, and nobody becomes stronger or better by getting beaten up for more than 20 years. That said, he remains an exceptional athlete, which is why he is still operating at this level after all these years.
"But I think everyone agrees: he’s no longer the same fighter he was five years ago, and I think we’ll quickly find out where he stands on October 31."
What message would you like to send to your supporters in France?
"I want to thank them. From the bottom of my heart, obviously, we’ve come a long way since the beginning of Team Solide, and I’m even more grateful that they’ve supported me all this time. But the fight isn’t over yet. Our hour of glory is coming on October 31."
So shall we meet up on the European continent once you’ve won this fight?
"Of course! We’ve been talking about it for so long, but just like the fight against Canelo, I believe that if we manifest it enough, we’ll make it happen.
"As my promoter Camille Estephan said the other day: first I beat the hell out of Canelo, then I beat the hell out of him again, and finally, for me, it’s the biggest arenas in Quebec and Paris."