Canelo Álvarez declares his complete readiness to face off against the unbeaten Edgar Berlanga, who aims to "astonish the globe".
The duo will lock horns at T-Mobile Arena in Sin City, Las Vegas. The primary event on Prime Video PPV is scheduled to commence at 8 p.m. ET, with the fight also being streamed on DAZN PPV.
This encounter holds extra significance for Alvarez as it falls over Mexican Independence Day weekend.
"I'm extremely thankful for the support (from Mexican fans)," Alvarez told CNN's Gonzalo Alvarado in an interview. "I feel lucky to represent my nation, to represent them, and I hope they enjoy the fight on Saturday."
Alvarez is the clear favorite for Saturday's bout, boasting an impressive 61-2-2 record. His two career losses came against the legendary Floyd Mayweather Jr. over a decade ago and against Russian Dmitry Bivol in a surprise defeat last year after transitioning to the light heavyweight division.
Alvarez took the distinction of becoming the first-ever undisputed champion at the super middleweight level in 2021 after defeating Caleb Plant in an 11th-round TKO. He held this title until July 2024, when he was stripped of his IBF title for refusing to participate in a mandatory fight against William Scull.
Alvarez will now square off against the formidable Berlanga.
"He's a skilled fighter," Alvarez commented on his opponent. "He's young, he's strong. But I have a wealth of experience, a wealth of talent."
Alvarez described himself as "100% prepared" for the bout and expressed his desire to knock out Berlanga, three years after his last KO against Plant.
"I'll do my best to win that way," he said.
Berlanga, the 27-year-old born in Brooklyn with Puerto Rican roots, enters his first title fight as the underdog, labeling the encounter as "the biggest fight of my life" and emphasizing the importance of "thinking smarter, not harder."
"This fight is all about strategy and intelligence," he told CNN. "It's nothing physical. We've prepared meticulously mentally for this fight, and that's what matters most."
Berlanga has an unbeaten 22-0 professional record, with 17 of those victories coming via knockout. He acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained confident before Saturday's bout.
"You can't charge in there against a guy like him and expect to knock him out with wild swings," he explained. "You need to set him up, gradually pull him deep into the waters."
"There will be three stages to the fight," he continued. "In the first four rounds, he'll feel me out. The second segment of the fight will be where the action truly begins, and we'll trade blows. The third segment of the fight will be when I'll take control."
Berlanga has a reputation as a heavy-hitter and could potentially pose troubles for Alvarez with his power. Despite his resilience as a counter-puncher and his uncanny ability to dodge knockdowns in his 65 bouts, he hasn't deterred Berlanga from aspiring to make history in this upcoming bout.
"I want to knock him out in the sixth round," he said. "Boxing. I'm more of a puncher than he is. I enjoy knockouts, so you know what to expect from me."
"I want to knock him out, I want to shock the world, I want to put him on the canvas. I want to show the world that with me, anything is possible."
This sporting event between Alvarez and Berlanga is highly anticipated, given its timing over Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Despite Berlanga's unbeaten record and power as a heavy-hitter, Alvarez, with his extensive experience and talent, feels confident in his abilities.
