Canelo Alvarez won't wager on himself vs. Caleb Plant, but calls fight 'a sure bet'
Even though his disposable income increases substantially with another $35 million purse arriving Saturday night, there remains a conscientious version of Canelo Alvarez when it comes to spending money.
When told various mobile betting sites favored him to defeat Caleb Plant between the -800 and -1000 range for his Showtime pay-per-view main event at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Alvarez told USA Today Sports+ he would not bet on himself.
“I don’t think so,” Alvarez said, expressing disinterest in the risk involved in wagering on such a substantial favorite. “If someone else wants to bet $10,000 to win $1,000, they can. It’s a safe bet. I just don’t like to bet on myself. It’s just the way I feel.”
The 31-year-old Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) is keeping with that tradition even as the ability to bet on boxing – and all sports – has become more widely accessible to Americans.
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States such as Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana and Wyoming have legalized mobile sports betting since Alvarez, in his bid to stand as the first undisputed super-middleweight champion in boxing history, opened training camp in August.
The confident side of Canelo says those backing him have little to fret about.
“It’s a sure bet,” he said.
The pound-for-pound king from Mexico impressively sharpened his defense in recent years. Alvarez has advanced even beyond the unbending force who weathered 24 rounds over two fights against former middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin. Alvarez managed not to touch the floor in either fight, claiming victory in the 2018 bout after battling to a draw in 2017.
His ability to break down and finish foes has been especially evident this year with destructive closings of mandatory opponent Avni Yildirim and the vicious power punches that shattered the face of former WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders in May.
Against Plant, Alvarez is confronting an unbeaten IBF champion from Nashville whose confidence is brimming, but whose resume is lacking.
The pair fought on stage at their introductory news conference in Beverly Hills, California in September, and Alvarez bloodied Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) under the right eye.
Alvarez dismissed Plant’s attempts at mind games aimed at angering him on fight night and scoffed at the suggestion Plant’s hand speed and cardio can pace the underdog to victory.
Alvarez was reminded of the recent news that now-retired Hall of Fame boxer Shane Mosley bet $1 million he would defeat Alvarez when they fought in 2012.
"This little snot-nosed kid is not going to beat me,” Mosley told OK Bet host Mario Lopez he surmised to himself before placing a wager at a Las Vegas sportsbook.
Mosley ultimately lost $400,000 more than his $600,000 in purse money that night.
“That’s what I’m saying," Alvarez said. “People think they can beat me, but when they come into the ring with me, it’s different.
“It’s always different.”