What do you get when you cross two middleweight champions, three major world titles and an undisputed world champion status on the line?
A battle for the ages.
The Mexican born champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is back in the ring after a stellar career to date. The current holder of the WBA and WBC titles, Canelo believes he is in the best form of his life, after suffering his only professional defeat in 2013 at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, he’s gone on to become one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport today.
The British born, Billy Joe Saunders is a champion in his own right, the current holder of the WBO title, Saunders is still riding a 30 win record, with a loss yet to come.
Three out of four major world titles, this will very well be one of the most important bouts of the two fighters career to date.
On the upcoming bout, Canelo had this to say.
“It’s really important to make history. And these fights are very important towards what we want to achieve in boxing. I’m very happy to be on this path and we are training at 100 percent, as always, to reach our goals.
“I know what Billy Joe Saunders brings. He’s a fast fighter who moves a lot. He’s a lefty, a difficult opponent. But at this level I have to adapt to any style, and I’m ready to make history and ready for any style.
“I really feel like I’m in my prime. I obviously really wanted to fight after 13 months without a fight. So that’s why I’m fighting three times in a little more than five months. I feel very happy and ready. I’m always ready to fight, and boxing is my life so I’m very happy to be so active.”
Saunders is ready to take on Canelo, heading in as the underdog, he’s aware of the task that lies ahead.
“It would mean the absolute world to me. I’ve been boxing since I was five years old, and to get to this stage of my career, this is the pinnacle of the pinnacle. This fight is going to be legacy because of what’s on the line. I’m just happy to be part of this show because when you look back at how far I’ve come to be here — a lot of people are only giving me a chance to ‘take part,’ so I’m going to use the term ‘take part in this show’ until the night.
“My history’s already written in my head, I just have to follow the script. I know that me doing what I do best and giving everything I’ve got will be history in itself.
“Canelo’s been on my radar ever since I turned pro. He’s one of the two that’s always been there. Now’s my time to shine. We don’t know until the night, until the bell goes. When the bell rings, we’ll see what happens. But he’s the most devastating puncher on the planet and he’s the most fearsome man on the planet. We’ll see when the bell goes. I’ll tell you after the fight.”
With Canelo heading in as the favourite, the boxing world is likely to go on to face Caleb Plant in September for the IBF belt, and to hold all titles of the undisputed champion of the division.
MAIN CARD
WBA, WBC, WBO, THE RING TITLE FIGHT
Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders
UNDER CARD
Junior Flyweight
Elwin Soto vs Katsunari
Super Welterweight
Kieron Conway vs Souleymane Cissokho
Heavyweight
Frank Sanchez vs Nagy Aguilera