Alvarez vs. Lara: What's in a name?

Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy "The American Dream" Lara talk ring names ahead of their July 12 Showtime PPV® Showdown

LAS VEGAS (June 11, 2014) - It is a tradition as old as the sweet science itself - fighters from minimumweight to heavyweight express themselves with their very own unique ring name. Anything goes as everything from Sugars to Executioners have made their way into the squared circle throughout boxing's storied history, and Saturday, July 12 is no exception.

The main event of the SHOWTIME PPV showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy "The American Dream" Lara will face off not only for junior middleweight supremacy, but honor and glory at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez
"My nickname was given to me by my trainer Jose 'Chepo' Reynoso when I first started training at Reynoso's Gym because of my red hair. First called me "Canelito" [Little Cinnamon] because I was still very young, around 12- or 13-years-old. As I grew older, it changed to 'Canelo.'

"Since I started fighting in the U.S. as a professional on U.S. television, I dropped the
'Saul' all together because it has become a brand name and is my persona in the ring and out of it.

"What some people may not know is that I named my daughter Canela and I told her: 'Once you grow up, you will understand what your name means and you will be proud of it.' "

Erislandy "The American Dream" Lara
"I thought of the name 'The American Dream' with my co-manager Luis Decubas Jr., because I defected from Cuba to achieve my dreams. Since I've been living in the United States, my family and I have truly been living the American Dream.

"Coming from literally nothing, and receiving my first pair of shoes at the age of eight in a communist country, sometimes you don't realize how important opportunity and freedom is until you have lived it. With hard work, a good team and the support of my wife, Yudi, behind me, I've been able to provide my family with a roof over their head, a good education, and daily meals that I never experienced as a kid in Cuba, but most importantly freedom.

"I risked my life in shark-infested waters leaving my mother, children and friends behind to escape a country led by a ruthless dictator to better my life, and my family's lives. It took a lot of courage but that's what I had to do to fulfill my dream of becoming a world champion, and it happened in the great United States of America, hence my nickname 'The American Dream.' "

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 "Honor & Glory: Canelo vs. Lara" a 12-round junior middleweight fight taking place Saturday, July 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event Abner Mares returns to face Puerto Rico's Jonathan Oquendo in a 10-round featherweight bout. In the SHOWTIME PPV opening bout, Johan Perez defends his interim WBA World Junior Welterweight Title against Mauricio Herrera in a 12-round match up. Also featured, Juan Manuel "JuanMa" Lopez meets Francisco "El Bandido" Vargas of Mexico in a 10-round bout for the WBO International Super Featherweight Title.

Tickets are still available at the $750, $500, $250, $150 and $75 price ranges, not including applicable service charges.  Tickets are limited to eighteen (18) per person with a limit of eight (8) at the $75 price ranges.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com orwww.ticketmaster.com.

The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). For information visit
www.SHO.com/Sports. Canelo vs. Lara will be shown on the big screen in movie theaters across the country via Fathom Events. Information will be available at www.fathomevents.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @CaneloOficial, @LaraBoxing, @abnermares00, @jonathanoquen, @juanma_lopez, @elbandido130, @elmaestro1, @mgmgrand,@SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #CaneloLara and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing andwww.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.