Canelo vs. Saunders May 8th
The great Mexican champion and owner of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight world belts, Canelo Alvarez and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight world champion, British Billy Joe Saunders, will fight in a unification bout, this Saturday, May 8, at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during the week of Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States.
The fight, promoted by Matchroom Boxing, will be televised by DAZN.
Canelo Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KOs) comes into the world unification bout after dismantling WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in just three rounds last February at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Now, the Mexican wants to take another giant step in his bid to become undisputed 160-pound champion by facing WBO king Saunders.
Alvarez’s victory over Yildirim came on the heels of his dominant win over Callum Smith in San Antonio, Texas, to win the belts he defends on Saturday, and now another Brit enters the fray to take on the pound-for-pound king.
“We want to unify the division, he’s a world champion, we want to go after him and we have to,” said Canelo. “He’s a very tough fighter and he has a championship, the WBO championship.
“People talk, but I’m a very mature boxer and I know how to control myself. All I have to do is get in the ring, win and make history.”
“It’s because it hasn’t been done, nobody has done it in Latin America. In the world only a few fighters have done it, the best. I want to make history and be one of the best in the world.”
Billy Joe Saunders (30-0 14 KOs) will put his WBO belt on the line for the third time, having recently sent Martin Murray into retirement following his comprehensive points victory over the hard-hitting Brit. Saunders also puts his unbeaten record on the line.
“Canelo, I’m ready to rock and roll,” Saunders said. “You have to dare to be great and you’re not going to be a great, if you don’t beat the greats.”
“I think I’m the only one with the footwork, the knowledge, the skills, the mentality and the brains to open that door for Canelo.”
“He’s the main man in the sport and the face of boxing. You have to respect him, he hasn’t ducked anyone, he’s beaten good names, but no one is unbeatable, and I think I have the tools to beat him, if I use them correctly and if I get the fight plan I have.”
“I’m looking for the golden ticket to cement my legacy, and that’s how you have to go in to beat him. I’ve won everything from the south side to world titles, I could say, ‘I’ve won it all, I’ve been to the Olympics, I’m undefeated.’ I’ll see you later.” But I just turned 31, I don’t have miles on the clock, I haven’t taken any punishment. I think he’s been in tougher fights than me and has more miles, so I want to cement my legacy and beat him.”
