Mexican veteran Pablo Cesar Cano steps back into the trenches on Saturday night for the 46th time as a professional.
The super lightweight contender features in the co-main event at the Caribe Royale in Orlando against the undefeated Shakhram Giyasov, before Edgar Berlanga-Padraig McCrory.
Uzbek Giyasov, 14-0 (9 KOs), is the favourite, but Cano is hoping to score his 26th stoppage victory, against eight losses and a draw.
The Mexican, who has won two in succession since his loss to Danielito Zorrrilla in 2021, recognises a big performance is crucial against Giyasov.
“Every fight is important and must win,” Cano said. “My main motivation is my family – my daughters and my wife – and to give them the best possible opportunities.”
Cano turned professional back in 2006 and went unbeaten in 24 until he was stopped by Erik Morales five years later.
He has boxed on huge bills, and fought several notable fighters, including, back-to-back, Paulie Malignaggi and Shane Mosley in 2012 and 2013.
“I’m satisfied with what I’ve achieved, but I’d like to achieve more,” he Cano.
Cano, 34, has watched Giyasov – who lives in Brooklyn – and understands what the 30 year old brings to the table, having won silver at the Rio Olympics, where he ultimately lost in the final to Daniel Yeleussinov. Giyasov also won the World Amateur Championships in Hamburg in 2017, but Cano believes he can work his way to victory.
“He had a very impressive amateur career, it’s going to be a very difficult opponent, but I’m prepared for that – and more,” Cano added, through a translator. “I believe the qualities [I have to win] are my pressure and my punching power – that will help me and take me to victory on Saturday.”
On reflection, Cano said that the highlight of his time as a professional came almost a decade ago, when he defeated Johan Perez for the WBA interim belt in Cancun in Mexico.
“I think the best moment of my career at the time was around 2014, when I won the interim world title with not a lot of experience but I had strength, I had youth on my side,” he recalled. Other proud moments soon surfaced about great fighters he has met.
“Two come to mind,” he continued. “I think Erik Morales, because he opened the doors to the big fights and my second one, because of it being a big victory and a great victory for me, was Jorge Linares.”
Morales stopped Cano in 10 on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz, but Cano halted Linares in one round in 2019 in Madison Square Garden’s Theater.
“With Erik Morales, it was something I never dreamed off [fighting him], because I grew up watching his fights and to share the ring with him, I couldn’t believe it,” Cano said. “And with Jorge Linares, it was a lot more personal. He had beaten my brother [Ivan Cano], and there obviously was something there.
“[And] I can’t forget the Shane Mosley fight, and Paulie Malignaggi – two big names.”
Cano feels a responsibility to Mexicans, and wants to continue the Mexican tradition of being an exciting fighter in exciting fights, by showing courage and heart.
“It’s very important to me,” Cano said. “It’s always been very important throughout my career. I’ve always shown that I’m one of those Mexican warriors that doesn’t back down, and proof of it is that I’m still – after all these years, I’m still here, knocking on all those doors for big fights.”