Canelo Alvarez was a little later than he planned arriving at the post-fight press conference as he was providing his sample for anti-doping agencies.
But that did not diminish his delight at showing everyone, perhaps even himself, that there is possibly plenty left in his 64-fight career.
“I did what I was supposed to do and I’m happy,” he said, following his resounding and wide decision win over Jermell Charlo. “This is Canelo. I’m back. Finally I’m back. I feel confident. I feel great and I’m so happy because I didn’t feel like this for a long time but now I’m back.”
For the last three fights, Canelo has failed to impress, sparking questions of his decline. But he was happy to reveal it was down to his previously-injured left hand, and that he’d passed this test without further injury.
“My hand is 100 per cent and I feel good,” Canelo went on. “I’m in my prime now. These are my best days, I showed them that.”
The Mexican was jubilant. He did not just what he wanted to do, but he has set himself up for more big nights, although he stopped short of naming who he would like to fight.
He was, however, quick to dismiss speculation of a bout with Terence Crawford.
“I always say if a fight makes sense, why not, but he’s not in the plan,” Alvarez added.
“I’m just going to enjoy this fight. Please let me enjoy this fight and we will see what’s next.”
And while some were disappointed with Charlo’s efforts, Canelo paid tribute to his opponent and said Charlo’s movement had kept him out of harm’s way.
“I would love to do more, but you have in front of you a great fighter,” Canelo went on. “He did his job, he moved a lot but I’m happy with what I did and I feel great. You fight 12 rounds, you try to show you’re the best. You’ve got to give credit to Charlo. Charlo is a savvy fighter, someone who can move around the ring. I’m happy with the work I did. I did my job.”
He did catch up to Charlo in the seventh, forcing him to the ropes and dropping him with a big right hand, using tactics he had prepared in training camp.
“I was working the body the whole fight and then I changed my punch and I got him and that’s what happened,” Canelo explained.
In the build-up, Canelo felt slighted that Charlo did not rate him as a fighter, and that was something he was happy to show the Texan.
“This has been one of the happiest nights I’ve had,” Canelo continued. “Charlo didn’t believe in my skills and I showed him he was wrong. This is definitely one of my happiest nights.”
Canelo neutralised the super-welterweight champion and said he would sit down with Al Haymon to work out his next movements. For now, though, he is happy to be back and happy to be able to fight in front of his children so they can see what the hype looks like, and what he is doing for them.
“I don’t know how long I will stay in boxing but I’m enjoying I get to show my kids what I’m doing in boxing,” he said.
