The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. was filled with fight fans from around the world Tuesday and that means one thing: it is fight week. But this is not any ordinary fight week, it’s “The One”, Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight week.
The first in many events leading up to Saturday’s main event was the grand arrivals of Mayweather and Alvarez, which is one of the more fan-friendly events of the week.
Alvarez clearly had the crowd behind him, as when he made his way to the stage in the hotel lobby of the MGM the crowd went nuts and chanted Ca-nel-o over and over. Despite the overwhelming crowd support Alvarez didn’t interact with fans much during his walk to the stage.
Mayweather, flanked by his protégée, Adrien Broner, made his way to the ring with little applause. That less than stellar crowd support didn’t stop Mayweather from signing multiple fans boxing gloves, posters or anything they could get into the five-division champion’s hands.
Both fighters were calm and played it cool on the stage which isn’t surprising with Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs), as he has been there time and time again, but Canelo (42-0-1, 30 KOs) looked like he has been there before even though this is his first mega-fight.
Both fighters had nice things to say about each other, which is a great show of respect that is rarely seen this close to fight night. Bet assured that all respect will be left in their waiting rooms when the two fighters meet in the ring capping off a huge night in boxing.
With the Mexican Independence Day weekend coinciding with “The One” event, the crowd getting behind Alvarez is not surprising and despite the fanfare Mayweather has in Mexico, the crowd will only be louder and crazier come fight night and will be mostly be behind the 23-year-old, red-headed hopeful.
Any fighter that has faced Mayweather seems to say that “it’s their time” and that they will be the fighter to hand the seemingly unbeatable Mayweather his first loss. Canelo sputtered those very words and this time around the majority of fans see to truly believe there is a chance that Mayweather’s legacy will see its first blemish.
The world will find out on Sept. 14 if Canelo is “The One,” but if history is any indicator the only one that will be added to anyone’s record, it will be in the loss column of Alvarez when it’s all said and done.
Canelo’s Grand arrival:
Mayweather’s Grand arrival:
