Boxing

Canelo and Smith do battle at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday night for the WBC world super-middleweight title.

The Mexican will drop back down to the 168-pound limit to take on WBA champion Smith, who boasts a 27-0 record.

Canelo, the four-division world champion, and Smith needed no extra incentive to win, but they were informed last week the vacant WBC strap is there for the taking.

Both Smith and Canelo have won WBC straps previously, the latter holding the super-welterweight and middleweight straps and the former the diamond belt at 168lbs.

Canelo has not fought this year, his previous appearance in the ring seeing him stop Sergey Kovalev to become WBO light-heavyweight champion in November 2019, but he insists he is in the best condition of his career.

"I feel I am in the best time of my career," he told Stats Perform News. "I feel strong. I am more mature and experienced. So, the truth is I feel better than ever.

"He [Smith] is absolutely different to the other fighters I have faced. He is a tall guy and has a big range. He likes to get into the fight, punching the body, great counter-attack, so it is going to be absolutely different and it will be hard to beat him.

"However, we are ready and I believe my experience and skills will give me the strength to win it."

Asked what it would take to overcome Smith, Canelo said: "Managing my position in the ring and knowing when to keep my distance.

"Don't waste my punches and use them when I know they will be useful. So, my experience and skills are vital to win this fight. All the fights I did already have given me experience for this kind of fight."

Around 12,000 supporters will be allowed into the vast Alamodome following an easing of coronavirus restrictions and Canelo hopes to put on a show for them.

"I believe 2020, with the pandemic, has been very tough for everyone," he added. "We had to learn to manage it and get adapted to this time, but thankfully we will be closing up 2020 after 13 months with no fights.

"I feel very happy and motivated. This is a venue for 70,000 people and there will be 12,000 there in order to keep social distance and spread them around. Hopefully they can enjoy a big event."

As the mandatory challenger, Avni Yildirim will be in line to face the winner of the bout between Canelo and Smith within 90 days of their bout.

The WBA light heavyweight belt will be on the line at the T-Mobile Arena when the fighters, both 31, go head to head in Sin City.

Mexican superstar Canelo (57-1-2) can expect strong support, while Bivol may find it in short supply.

This is a fight that some feel should not be happening, with Wladimir Klitschko having told the BBC in March that Bivol should be "forbidden from fighting in America", due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Klitschko's brother, Vitali, is mayor of Kyiv.

The WBC, IBF and IBO have said they will not sanction fights that feature boxers from Russia or Belarus, but the WBA is not taking the same stance.

Even without that factor hanging over the fight, Bivol would reasonably expect Canelo to have comfortably the greater support this weekend, given his status as a regular Vegas venue filler.

Bivol (19-0) is a 31-year-old who aligns himself just as closely to Kyrgyzstan as he does to Russia, and he is the belt holder.

While Canelo is dominant at super middleweight, stepping up from the 168lbs division to 175lbs brings with it its own challenges. He is targeting undisputed champion status in the division.

Canelo told Stats Perform: "I feel good, I feel great. Like always, I trained 100 per cent. I'm ready for Saturday.

"I feel I am at my best in 168lbs. But I'm always around 180lbs in my normal life. So I feel good. It's a challenge for me, but in this period I would love to be undisputed in 175lbs too."

Bivol will be taking on a fighter widely regarded as the pound-for-pound number one, so to beat Canelo would be the ultimate scalp.

"I don't think about whether I will be the best or something else, I just have to beat him," Bivol told Stats Perform. "I just believe in my skills, and we will see what will happens after, and then we will think about who's the best."

Should he prevail, Bivol will give greater thought about where that puts him in boxing's current pantheon.

"Of course it means I can be the best and I've realised my potential," he said. "That's what it means. We will be glad, but I don't think about the result now. I'm only thinking about the fight and not the result."

Canelo is expected to tackle Gennady Golovkin later in the year, completing a trilogy.

His status is such that Bivol is admiring of the Mexican, albeit determined to send him to the canvas. 

"He's the most popular of my opponents, I can 100 per cent say, this is one of the most known opponents," Bivol said.

BIvol is braced for the rare experience of not being a fight favourite on Saturday night, and said: "It's motivated me, and it's a new challenge for me."

Canelo (56-1-2) will put his WBA, WBC and WBO belts on the line against unbeaten IBF champion Plant (21-0) in Saturday's blockbuster clash in Las Vegas.

Ahead of his historic tilt at the undisputed super middleweight crown, Canelo made clear his intentions in the final news conference before the mouth-watering bout.

"That's the goal, to be an all-time great," Canelo said during Wednesday's news conference, with the winner to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion in the four-belt era. "I'm so proud of trying to achieve that.

"I'm never going to stop until I try my best to be one of the all-time greats. Only one thing goes through my mind, and that's winning.

"That's the only thing I'm concerned about. Everything else is beyond me. The only thing I care about is what's going to happen inside the ring on Saturday night."

Canelo added: "The fact that I can make history this weekend along with Formula One driver Sergio Perez, is very motivating for me. My goal is to make this an unbelievable weekend for Mexico."

The midweek meeting was much more civil than September's news conference after the pair were involved in a physical altercation.

"People are going to say what they're going to say. But I get the final say and I can't wait to prove everything in the ring. I can't focus on what other people say about me. If I listened to the doubters, I wouldn't even be here," American boxer Plant said.

"I've been the underdog before. It's a place I like to be. I like people rooting against me. It gives me extra motivation, but when you're fighting Canelo for undisputed status, you don’t need much more motivation than that.

"Make sure you tune in. This isn't just the biggest fight of the year, but you're tuning in to witness history when I get crowned the undisputed super middleweight champion."

Meanwhile, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is eyeing a sensational boxing clash with Canelo.

Usman – riding a wave of 14 straight victories, the second most in history – flagged the idea ahead of Saturday's UFC 268 in New York, which would be reminiscent of mixed-martial arts star Conor McGregor's boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017.

McGregor lost to undefeated five-division world champion Mayweather via a 10th-round TKO.

"I think that's something that [would be] the biggest ever in history," Usman said, speaking ahead of Saturday's UFC 268 in New York. "That's what I'm looking to do. That's something that scares me. That's something that gets me up in the morning. That's something that I might risk leaving my daughter for another 12 weeks for.

"He's a master of his craft," Usman said of Canelo. "He's used to these boxers. He's used to the boxing speed and the boxing movements and things like that. We're different. Sometimes different can be good. What's wrong with giving him a different look? Of course, it's a tall tree to climb, but we saw what happened the last time I was the underdog."

All eyes were on Las Vegas for Saturday's unification bout between WBA, WBC and WBO holder Canelo and unbeaten IBF champion Plant.

Canelo (57-1-2) claimed a clean sweep of the division belts after a merciless KO of Plant at MGM Grand, where the Mexican superstar inflicted a first professional defeat on the American.

The aggressor, Canelo had a sniff of blood in the penultimate round after flooring Plant (21-1) and that was all he needed as he hunted down his opponent before landing another knockdown.

Canelo was on the hunt from the very first bell, holding his ground and seeking an opening as Plant fought off the hunter with his jabs.

Working the body was the theme for Canelo, who put Plant under mounting pressure in the second round, though the latter went to work quickly in the third with a jab and hook.

Plant continued to move well but there was no escaping Canelo as he used a combination to lay into the former in the fourth.

A lack of power was problematic for Plant, who did not have enough on his punches to back off Canelo and really hurt him.

While Plant was still throwing punches, Canelo was simply unbothered on the hunt with a hard uppercut.

Canelo rocked Plant in the sixth round, backing him into the ropes before a three-punch combo put the three-belt champion in a powerful and brutal rhythm.

Amid a restless crowd, Canelo wore down Plant as he gave his opponent little room to breathe while maintaining his aggressive approach heading into the 10th round.

It all came to a head in the 11th as Canelo flexed his muscles to write his name in the history books.

Canelo put his WBC and WBA belts on the line in Miami, where the Mexican star was fighting for just the second time since November 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 30-year-old barely raised a sweat on Saturday – Yildirim's corner waving off the fight before the start of the fourth round after a combination of jabs floored the Turkish challenger in the third.

Canelo improved to 55-1-2 as he looks ahead to a unification bout against WBO holder Billy Joe Saunders on May 8.

Eyebrows were raised when Canelo opted to fight Yildirim (21-3), who last fought in February 2019, and the gulf in class was evident from the outset.

There were a couple of warning shots from Canelo in the opening round as he worked Yildirim's body in front of an electric crowd at Hard Rock Stadium.

Canelo, who stopped Callum Smith in December last year, continued to move well in the second round – light on his feet with a number of quick uppercuts setting the tone.

Yildirim was on the backfoot early in the third, sent to the canvas following a devastating one-two combo from Canelo.

Smelling blood, Canelo went in for the attack as he forced Yildirim against the ropes, but the latter managed to weather the storm as he survived the round.

But after his trainer was heard saying "I'll give you one more round or I'll stop you", Yildirim's fight came to an end before the bell could sound for the start of the fourth.

Alvarez and Golovkin have shared a heated rivalry since 2017, when the first meeting between the pair ended in a controversial split draw.

The Mexican won the rematch in 2018, but the mutual dislike still feels fresh.

"A knockout, that’s what I see," Canelo (57-2-2, 39 KOs) said when asked in a news conference to predict the outcome at T-Mobile Arena.

The undisputed super middleweight champion is coming off a loss to Dmitry Bivol but insists he can handle Golovkin, whose record stands at 42-1-1, 37 KOs.

"I got tired as the fight went on, and as far as the loss, you take the loss and you move on," Canelo added.

"I'm more dangerous now than before. It's personal to me."

When asked if he wants to "punish" Golovkin in their third – and likely final – meeting, Canelo told Fighthype: "Yes, because he always talks about me, a lot of s*** about me."

Canelo also alleged that his opponent has been biding his time, focused only on another rematch and a final payday before the 40-year-old Golovkin retires.

"He's fighting a lot of C- and D-level fighters, and I'm staying busy fighting the best fighters out there. It doesn't make sense, right? I'm glad to be here," Canelo added.

Mexican superstar Alvarez has not fought since he became a four-weight world champion last November, stopping Sergey Kovalev in round 11 of their WBO light-heavyweight title clash.

Since then he has split from Golden Boy Promotions and proposed fights have not come to fruition, including a clash with Billy Joe Saunders that had looked set to happen in September.

There had been reports he planned a return against IBF super-middleweight champion Caleb Plant, but it will be fellow 30-year-old Smith (27-0) who opposes Alvarez (53-1-2) for the WBA super-middleweight belt.

Both currently hold WBA belts in the division, with Smith the 'super' champion and Alvarez the 'regular' champion.

Alvarez wrote on Twitter: "I'll be returning to the ring on December 19th to face Callum Smith."

Alvarez's previous promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, in February claimed Smith had turned down the chance to fight the man regarded by many as the best active pound-for-pound boxer.

In September 2016, Alvarez beat Smith's older brother, Liam Smith, by ninth-round knockout in a WBO light-middleweight title fight in Arlington, Texas.

Reports have indicated Arlington is again in the frame to stage next month's fight, with Smith's promoter, Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, confirming it would go ahead in the United States.

Smith said: "I've been wanting a big fight since becoming world champion, so I'm so pleased that during these challenging times we can deliver to the fans a fight between the very best in the division.

"I truly believe I beat him and will prove that 168lbs is my division."

Alvarez suffered only the second defeat of his professional career against Bivol this month after stepping up to light heavyweight.

The Mexican has a rematch option, which he intends to activate, but first will face Golovkin for a third time at super middleweight, he told ESPN.

"We already had that contract [with Golovkin], that agreement, so we have to continue what we started," he said.

"I think those are the two biggest fights in boxing, the fight with Golovkin and the rematch with Bivol.

"Unfortunately, we lost [to Bivol], but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try again. The important thing here is perseverance and we're going to do it again.

"What is certain is that we are going to return in September. And in the coming days, we are going to announce the fight."

A controversial split draw between Alvarez and Golovkin in September 2017 was followed by a Canelo win a year later. That remains the sole defeat of Golovkin's career.

That is the verdict of WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who has praised Alvarez for the way he bounced back from a first defeat - and tipped him to further enhance his legacy before hanging up the gloves.

The Mexican superstar's solitary loss as a pro came back in September 2013, as he came out on the wrong side of a points verdict after going 12 rounds with the undefeated Mayweather.

Sulaiman feels that, at 23, Canelo was not ready for such a challenge at that stage in his career but has recovered impressively to build a case to be viewed as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

His impressive record includes a points win in a rematch with middleweight rival Gennadiy Golovkin - their first meeting ended as a split-decision draw - while his most recent bout saw him step up to light-heavyweight to stop WBO champion Sergey Kovalev.

Speaking to Stats Perform News courtesy of @trcksuits, Sulaiman explained how Alvarez - who does not turn 30 until July - has time on his side to further his reputation.

"He's still building his legacy," the WBC chief said. "He's young, he's active and he's hungry to be and become the greatest.

"He learned from his mistakes. He fought Floyd Mayweather when he was too young and that could have ended his career.

"But then he focused, he came back, he learned from that fight and now has evolved into a very mature, highly competitive world-presence fighter.

"I think when his career is over, we're going to have Canelo Alvarez in a very selective list of fighters from history."

Alvarez had appeared set to fight again in May this year, only for the coronavirus pandemic to put a hold on his future plans.

Yordenis Ugas and Oleksandr Usyk were big underdogs before they scotched victory hopes for Manny Pacquiao and Anthony Joshua, respectively.

But neither was quite the outsider with the bookmakers that undefeated Plant has been made for this Las Vegas showdown, when a first four-belt unification of the super middleweight belts goes on the line.

Mexican superstar Canelo (56-1-2) is boxing's pound-for-pound number one and the holder of the WBA, WBC and WBO titles in the division.

Standing in his way at the MGM Grand will be IBF champion Plant (21-0), a 29-year-old from Tennessee who goes by the nickname 'Sweethands'. Canelo is an overwhelming, practically unbackable, odds-on favourite.

A news conference featuring the fighters in September saw the pair involved in a physical altercation, but that will be tame compared to the battle that lies ahead, with Plant adamant he can be the latest to upend a massive favourite.

Plant said this week: "I've dedicated my life to this sport. We're happy to be here, but we're not happy just to be here; we're here to win those belts and become the first undisputed super middleweight of all time.

"I think he knows he's got someone in front of him who's not just here to hand his belt over, not just here to pick up a cheque, but is here to get those belts. That's exactly what I'm here to do.

"I've been the underdog... maybe this is the third time in my career. It's a place I like to be. But fighting for the first undisputed super middleweight championship of the world, you don't need much more than that. I'm focused, I'm locked in, I'm ready, I'm relaxed and I'm calm. The way I see this fight turning out is [ring announcer] Jimmy Lennon saying, '..and the new undisputed and still undefeated...'."

When it comes to the odds, and all the pre-fight talk, Plant is unmoved by the favouring of Canelo to get the job done.

"People are gonna say what they're gonna say, but they don't get the end say, and I get the end say," Plant said. "I can't focus on what other people have to say about me or what they say I can accomplish. If I had listened to them to begin with, I wouldn't even be here.

"I'm focused on the game-plan and focused on what I've got to do. What people say or odds makers... that has nothing to do with me and that's none of my business.

"By any means necessary, I've gotten here. I've had chances to bow out or step away and to say, 'I'm done, I've had enough', and I haven't, so for Saturday night I just can't wait for the bell to ring. This is history and you're looking at him and his name is Caleb Plant."

When it comes to showtime, Canelo will take some stopping, however.

"We have come a long way to make this happen, and we are just days away from making history," Canelo said.

RECENT HISTORY

Canelo was too strong for Billy Joe Saunders when he fought the British fighter in Arlington, Texas in May, leaving his opponent with a broken eye socket and cheekbone broken in three places. Saunders retired after the eighth round of that tussle, handing over the WBO strap.

Plant has not fought since defeating Caleb Truax on points in January. He took that fight 120-108 on all three scorecards, winning every round. His target after the fight was the winner of Canelo versus Saunders, and now that fight is here.

TALE OF THE TAPE

CANELO ALVAREZ

Age: 31
Height: 5ft 8 (173cm) 
Weight: 168lbs
Reach: 70.5 ins
Professional record: 56-1-2 (38 KOs) 
Major career titles: Reigning WBA, WBC and WBO champion

CALEB PLANT

Age: 29
Height: 6ft 1ins (185cm) 
Weight: 167lbs
Reach: 74 ins
Professional record: 21-0 (12 KOs) 
Major career titles: Holder of IBF belt

Promoter Hearn this month revealed that super-middleweights Smith, the WBA's super champion, and WBO title-holder Saunders are awaiting improved offers to fight the Mexican superstar after rejecting initial terms.

The British duo are both eager to do battle with Canelo and Hearn says they should not have long to wait before learning if they will step into the ring with the 29-year-old.

"I believe there's meetings taking place on Tuesday to ultimately determine who is going to get the fight," Hearn told Sky Sports News.

"Billy Joe is coming out and saying, 'hurry up, tell him he's got until Wednesday'. I said, 'Billy, it doesn't work like that'. Ultimately this is the golden ticket, this fight.

"Callum Smith is waiting patiently behind closed doors. They both want the fight. They both want a deal that's fair.

"You saw Oscar De La Hoya come out and say, 'these guys turning down these fights’.

"You can't offer a WBA and a 'Ring Magazine' champion half of what another world champion got to face him. We're negotiating.

"I'm very confident that one of those guys will get the Canelo fight and it will be done this week."

Canelo claimed the belts in December, handing Callum Smith his first career defeat as he recorded a unanimous points triumph over the Englishman in San Antonio, Texas.  

Now the Mexican superstar will head to Florida for his next outing, the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens chosen to stage the clash with Yildirim.  

While keen to eventually unify the 168-pound division, the 30-year-old must first deal with his mandatory challenger for the WBC strap.  

"Avni Yildirim is a good boxer and I know we will put on an exciting fight," said Canelo.   

"I'm very glad that we are able to bring this event to Miami, a short distance from where my hero, Muhammad Ali, trained.   

"February 27 will be a great night for the sport."

Yildirim, who owns a 21-2 record as a pro, previously challenged for the vacant WBC belt in February 2019, losing via a technical decision after opponent Anthony Dirrell suffered a cut that forced their bout to be stopped.  

However, the 29-year-old - whose other loss came against Chris Eubank Jr in 2017 - is ready to go to war as he aims to cause a huge upset.  

"I am honoured as a mandatory to fight again for the big green belt - thank you to everyone who is involved," Yildirim said in a press release to announce the date. 

"I always give my all – and everybody should be ready to see a war. I am coming to make my country proud – I am representing the whole of Turkey."

The day after long-time rival Golovkin had dominated against Kamil Szeremeta to defend his IBF middleweight title for a record 21st time, Canelo demonstrated his undoubted skills to defeat the much-taller Callum Smith on points up at super-middleweight. 

Unsurprisingly, they were asked about facing each other in the aftermath. There was a split-decision draw between them in September 2017, followed a year later by a contentious Canelo win on points. 

A third episode seemed an absolute certainty at one stage, but does it still make sense now?

As we come towards the conclusion of an unprecedented year amid a global health pandemic, it seems the ideal time to weigh up the pros and cons for two of the biggest names in boxing. 
 

A third fight MUST happen! 

Canelo: The Mexican came out on top in the previous meeting, but that majority verdict will always leave a shred of doubt for some. As is so often the case when a bout goes the distance, the outcome is so subjective. All three judges' scores were close too – Glenn Feldman had it 114-114, while his two counterparts - Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld - made Canelo the winner 117-115.  

Since then, Canelo has moved up and down in weights, knocking out Sergey Kovalev at light-heavy before dropping back to 168 pounds to outclass the previously unbeaten Smith. Those wins have further enhanced his legacy, while there are plenty of options over who to face next. Still, the most lucrative option must be GGG, giving him a chance to emphatically prove he is the better man in the rivalry. 

GGG: That defeat in Las Vegas in September 2018 remains the only blemish on a mighty impressive career CV. Golovkin was a hugely successful amateur who made a seamless transition into the paid ranks, building a reputation for both his power punching and ring acumen.  

The Kazakh is now 38 and while there are other names to keep him busy in the division - "I'm open for anybody," he said after his destruction of Szeremeta - Canelo must be the top priority for 2021. That may require ceding ground in negotiations, but so be it. GGG should do everything possible to get that deal signed – and then do his utmost to make sure the judges are not required to decide the outcome again. 
 

It's history – time to move on! 

Canelo: Been there, done that. Alvarez was the official winner in the Golovkin rematch, no matter what your opinion is on the verdict, so why does he need to go over old (no slight on GGG's age there) ground? 

A stoppage success would undoubtedly prove any doubters wrong, admittedly. After beating Smith, Alvarez dealt with the obligatory Golovkin question by saying: "I don't run from nobody". However, his willingness to switch weights from bout to bout gives him a plethora of options as he moves forward. Could we see him go up again to campaign at light-heavy? All avenues are open.

GGG:A third meeting is a gamble that will be deemed worth taking. Still, considering his age, Golovkin cannot be left waiting around in the hope it eventually happens at some stage – particularly as Canelo talked up the potential of unifying at super-middleweight, now he has the WBA and WBC belts. 

Moving up to 168 to make it happen does not suit Golovkin, so perhaps it is best to focus on cleaning up at middleweight. Fellow world champions Jermall Charlo and Demetrius Andrade are strong options for a fighter who needs to capitalise on his position in the twilight stages of his career. 

The trilogy tussle at the T-Mobile Arena has a lot to live up to after the previous battles between the pair, in 2017 and 2018.

Alvarez goes into this one as the firm favourite, with few giving the 40-year-old Golovkin much hope, but the tight nature of their previous fights could stir something in the Kazakh.

Ahead of the keenly anticipated showdown, Stats Perform has looked at the state of play in one of boxing's greatest modern-day rivalries.

The trilogy so far

If history is a guide, nobody should be surprised if fight three between these warriors goes the distance.

Both previous clashes, which were contested at middleweight, went all the way. The first ended in a split-decision draw, and the second went down as an Alvarez points win, albeit one that many called into question. Two of three judges gave him the win by a sliver, the other scoring it a draw.

So expect a sense of deja vu this weekend, not least because the fight is being held at the same venue that put on their first two clashes.

Alvarez was given a bizarrely lopsided 118-110 victory by one of the first fight's judges, while another scored it narrowly in Golovkin's favour, and the third as a draw, so perhaps this time the fighters will be eager to avoid any possible lottery on the scorecards.

A victory inside the distance for either man might be the most fitting way of bringing their rivalry to its conclusion.

What's happened since the rematch?

There was inevitably talk of a trilogy fight after Canelo got the better of Golovkin four years ago, but it took until May of this year for confirmation to come through.

Canelo has danced between the divisions, winning title fights at middleweight, super-middleweight and light heavyweight since he last encountered Golovkin in the ring.

Golovkin has fought just four times, and will hope that is sufficient preparation.

Unlike Canelo, he has a 100 per cent record from his fights in the last four years. Canelo was beaten on his last outing, losing to Dmitry Bivol on a unanimous, albeit tight verdict (115-113 with all three judges), when contesting the WBA light heavyweight belt.

Has anything changed in four years?

Ask yourself the same question. Of course, things change. We get older; past a certain point, perhaps we slow down a little; the pandemic put the brakes on most aspects of our lives, for a while at least.

It took a heavy toll on boxing, too, but Canelo and Golovkin have got the buzz back, and one thing that has not changed appears to be the enmity between them.

As Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Boxing, said on announcing the fight: "These are two men that bitterly dislike each other and want to end this incredible series with a blistering KO."

Canelo is still a young man, at 32, and he carries a 57-2-2 record into the fight, putting his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts on the line.

Golovkin boasts a 42-1-1 career as he steps up to super-middleweight for the first time, but he is very much the veteran, the man that time is most likely to have caught up on since part two of this series.

According to Canelo, Golovkin has been taking on third-rate opponents to extend his career for this payday.

"A knockout, that's what I see," said a confident Canelo in June.

Some juicy shots are being thrown outside the ring, boiling up nicely for ring time.

The Briton's unanimous points triumph seemingly paved the way for a blockbuster fight. Now, three and a half years on from delivering a boxing lesson in Quebec, and having moved up a division, Saunders finally gets that opportunity.

Gennadiy Golovkin was the initial target back then, but Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is more than an adequate alternative. The Mexican is viewed by most to be the best pound-for-pound boxer around right now, as well as the sport's biggest superstar.

The two rivals have taken contrasting paths to topping the bill at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. While Canelo has skipped around the weights, piling up victories and padding his resume to help define his lasting legacy, Saunders has fought just four times since schooling Lemieux.

"He thought he was going to get Golovkin or Canelo as his next fight after his brilliant display against Lemieux. He didn't, though, and then lost momentum being inactive for 12 months," Dominic Ingle, Saunders' former trainer who was in his corner in Canada, told Stats Perform News.

"I think he found it hard to motivate himself for fights that weren't going to bring him some big money, or a big name.

"He's just not been very consistent in terms of fights, but he's got that kind of style that can prove so elusive. If you can hit someone with two or three shots and they’re missing you back, you’re going to win.

"The thing with Canelo, though, is how consistent he has been, no matter who he is up against. He just gets on with it."

So, can Saunders really seize his long-overdue chance? The skilled southpaw has both the talent and temperament to cope with Canelo, so the key - according to Ingle at least - will be his stamina.

"With Billy, even if he hasn't done a lot of boxing stuff and sparring, it's like a game of tag with him. He can touch someone, get them to commit then he fires in a quick counter and is off," Ingle explained.

"The way he boxed against Lemieux wasn't like I'd taught him any of that stuff; he knew how to do it. What he needed was the conditioning and the fitness to get through.

"There was a stage when he wanted to stop him [Lemieux], but there was no point taking a risk. If he can box like that – I know it's a different opponent, of course – but Canelo finds it difficult to beat fighters who are elusive and slippery. It's frustrating when you can't get your shots off."

Saunders has done his best to antagonise Canelo before the bout, including threatening to head home during fight week over a dispute about the ring size inside the impressive venue.

He will hope to annoy him once the bell sounds to start the action too, as the seemingly unstoppable force faces a moveable object determined to make life as tough as possible for a rival accustomed to getting his own way.

Canelo has lost just once – back in 2013 to Floyd Mayweather Jr – but Ingle feels Saunders has all the ingredients required to create a recipe for success, even if a stoppage triumph seems unlikely.

"It's all about how quickly Canelo can get used to closing Billy down," Ingle said ahead of a bout that could see a record crowd in attendance for an indoor boxing event in the United States.

"I know people will say that fight against Mayweather was years ago, but if you struggle against movers then that doesn't change. When he boxed Erislandy Lara [in 2014] he struggled a bit as well.

"He can obviously do really well against orthodox fighters, but when it's against southpaws it is a bit more difficult.

"You've got Billy there being a southpaw, a great southpaw and an exceptional mover, while Canelo struggles with southpaws and movement. Billy likes to frustrate you when you are up against him.

"You need to be fit to do that kind of style, one like Tyson Fury uses, so you can frustrate your opponent into making mistakes. He can beat Canelo, for sure, but I don't think he can stop him.

"He can win on points, but that is a risk as the verdict may go against you."

Any risk is surely worth the reward for Saunders, who can alter the boxing landscape by beating Canelo and taking not only his WBA and WBC belts, but also his aura of invincibility. 

If the build-up is anything to go by, he appears up for the challenge that lies ahead in the ring, no matter what size it is.

However, several British boxers have tried and failed in the past to get the better of the Mexican superstar, who will be taking part in his 57th career bout and is still only 30.

Canelo told Stats Perform News this week Smith is "absolutely different to the other fighters I have faced", and the WBA champion will hope for a different result, too.

Take a trip down memory lane as we look back at the previous times Alvarez has come up against Brits in the ring.

Matthew Hatton - March 2011 (won by unanimous decision)

Canelo, already with 36 fights to his name (35-0-1), earned his breakthrough world title shot aged just 20 and took on Ricky Hatton's brother in California for the vacant WBC light-middleweight belt. It was also Hatton's first - and last - championship chance, though, and he was outclassed.

The beaten opponent reflected on "a long night" earlier this year as he told Sky Sports: "I left the ring that night believing that I'd been in with someone special who would go on to have a brilliant career." He was not wrong.
 

Ryan Rhodes - June 2011 (won by technical knockout)

Just three months on from the Hatton fight, in his very next bout, Alvarez defended his title back in Mexico against Rhodes, another Brit. It was an impressive display from the champion as he stayed patient after Rhodes recovered from a no-count knockdown in the fourth, decisively ending the contest against a staggering opponent in the final round.

Rhodes said he was "beaten up by a superstar of boxing", although he acknowledged he "probably underestimated him, underestimated his power". It was a mistake no man can afford to make against Canelo, who declared himself "ready for anybody".
 

Amir Khan - May 2016 (won by knockout)

Alvarez backed up that big talk in the aftermath of the Rhodes win but had tasted his sole career defeat - against Floyd Mayweather in September 2013 - by the time he next faced a Brit. Khan moved up two weight divisions to challenge for the WBC middleweight strap, yet it proved several steps too far.

A brutal right hand downed Khan in round six, before Canelo called out Gennady Golovkin, setting in motion their epic rivalry. Khan told Sky Sports his opponent was "a beast" and would now back him to beat Mayweather in a rematch.
 

Liam Smith - September 2016 (won by knockout)

The Mexican did not immediately move on to GGG and instead next tackled Smith, returning to light-middleweight to take the WBO crown. It was another devastating, dominant showing against a champion Alvarez had described as having "real knockout power". Smith went to the canvas in the seventh, eighth and, finally, ninth rounds.

"There are world champions, then there are elite fighters," Smith told Sky Sports, feeling his opponent had fallen firmly into the latter camp.
 

Rocky Fielding - December 2018 (won by technical knockout)

Smith's assessment was echoed by the fifth Brit to come up short against Canelo. "I tried my best but that's what elite fighters are like," Fielding told Sky Sports, saying he "dared to be great" by taking the fight. By that point, Alvarez had twice faced Golovkin, winning a rematch after a controversial initial draw.

There was nothing contentious about the defeat of Fielding, who was knocked down four times inside three rounds before the Madison Square Garden bout was halted. "The better man won," said Fielding.

It is now up to Callum Smith to upset the odds and prove he can be the better man.

Canelo defended his WBC and WBA middleweight titles via a brutal TKO after just three rounds against Avni Yildirim in Miami on Saturday.

After being floored in the third round, Turkish challenger Yildirim managed to make it to the bell but his corner through in the towel before the start of the fourth at Hard Rock Stadium, where the gulf in class was evident from the outset.

Following the mismatch, a blockbuster showdown against unbeaten WBO holder and Englishman Saunders (30-0) was confirmed.

"It's Canelo against Saunders — May the 8th — venue announced shortly as he continues to move toward the undisputed championship at 168," Hearn said post-fight on DAZN.

Canelo said: "He's a very difficult fighter. He wants to unify. We want to go for it. We need to go for it.

"People talk whatever, but I'm a very mature fighter. I know how to control myself."

The 30-year-old Canelo is looking to become the first undisputed champion at super-middleweight, with IBF holder Caleb Plant next on the list if he gets past Saunders.

"It hasn't been done," Canelo said of being crowned undisputed champion "I want to make history.

"At 168, no one has done it in the world. I want to make my own history."

There was an electric crowd in attendance for the Canelo-Yildirim contest, with fan capacity capped at 15,000 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Canelo dominated and made his move in the third round – a combination of jabs sending Yildirim to the canvas, and while the latter survived the round, he did not emerge from his corner for the fourth.

"I wanted to have a great fight here," Canelo added. "I needed to knock [him] out, and that's what I did. That's what I had to do."

The Mexican has achieved plenty during that five-year period, but the discussions around a trilogy bout with GGG were always present, and it was pretty clear that fight remained on the agenda.

Now, though, for the first time in half a decade, Canelo's future can be written without the inclusion of Golovkin. While the Kazakh was open to a fourth clash, Canelo's attention will be focused elsewhere.

With the chapter with Golovkin ending, however, there is some uncertainty. Avenging his defeat against Dmitry Bivol is top of Canelo's agenda, which he made clear after Saturday's triumph in Las Vegas.

"Of course, everybody knows. We'll see, we'll see what happens in that fight," he said post-fight.

"It's very important for my legacy, for me, for my country, for my family, for everything. I will beat him."

A rematch with the Russian may be a way off, however, with Bivol set to face Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi on November 5 and potentially having further opponents lined up beyond that fight, as Eddie Hearn explained.

"The fact is, to fight Canelo Alvarez, Bivol might have to fight [Joshua] Buatsi and Zurdo [Ramirez]," Hearn said, via DAZN. "That fight's not a definite because we can't just wait until May. It's impossible, and there's so much risk in those fights."

WBC, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev is also a possibility, with a unification bout likely to be appealing to Bivol if he can successfully defend his belts in November.

This may play into Canelo's hands, though, as he revealed after victory against Golovkin that he entered the fight with a wrist injury and could now take a year out to recover, with surgery on the cards.

"I need surgery. It was really bad, really bad. It's not broken, it's a meniscus, it's a wrist injury, not broken. It's ligaments, like a knee injury or something like that," he explained.

"I'm going to take the time my body needs. Last year I fought four times in 11 months, so that's why. But I need to take my time a little bit, maybe May, September, I need to take my time."

Canelo's absence may open the door for a rematch with Bivol late in 2023, while also having the potential to allow the middleweight division to develop, as there are few who could pose a meaningful challenge right now.

David Benavidez stands as the most likely challenger for Canelo's middleweight titles, unbeaten with 23 knockouts from 26 wins, while Jermall Charlo could be another contender – though he hasn't fought since 2021 and holds a title at 160 pounds.

Neither would be as appealing for Canelo as a rematch with Bivol, however, as he seeks revenge against only the second man to have beaten him in his professional career – the first being Floyd Mayweather in September 2013.

The growing trend of exhibition and celebrity boxing, where the likes of Jake Paul have made a wave, cannot be ruled out entirely for Canelo, but the 31-year-old would be unlikely to make such a move until he has had his shot at revenge against Bivol.

The 7-0-0 Dubois returns to the ring on Saturday after three months away as she continues her bid to become a world champion.

The unbeaten 22-year-old credited the experienced 22-6-4 Rodriguez and will look to put a marker down with another impressive victory in London.

“She’s fought some good names (Rodriguez) and top fighters and got a knockdown in her draw against Estelle Yoka-Mossely, who was Olympic champion,” Dubois told the PA news agency.

“Rodriguez is tough and experienced and has had more fights than me at this level.

“I’ve got advantages in speed, the skill, the ability and it’s just about how I put it together on the night .

“She’s durable, she’s never been stopped, she’s tough, she knows how to take punches and ride them and how to manoeuvre through the rounds. She can cope during rounds because of her experience

“I’m looking for a win; I’m lying if I’m saying I don’t want to go out and get a spectacular knockout so it’s up to Magali and me.

“I want to put a good stamp down and impress a lot of people and open their eyes to Caroline Dubois.”

The Briton went the distance for the first time since her professional debut in her last bout against Yanina Lescano.

And Dubois, who is competing for the vacant IBO lightweight title this weekend, welcomed the experience of extra rounds while highlighting her dangerous knockout record.

“Lescano was really tough, she’s maybe someone who would not beat world champions but she could compete with world champions at my weight and give them trouble as well,” Dubois, who has won five of her seven bouts by knockout, added.

“I was able to go out there and win and know that I was able to hurt her in the later rounds and that I had the ability to overwhelm her and beat her easily really.

“Definitely (good to get experience of longer fights). At the time it was a bit frustrating but this is what will pay dividends in the times I’m in a hard fight because I know I can do 10 rounds and get through it.

“It’s been every fight except two and I’m happy with it. For me to get knockouts in 10 two-minute rounds is pretty insane when you think of it.

“It’s massive and so important. I can outbox someone but I’ve also got that factor where I can hurt them and take them out too.”

Dubois relishes her York Hall return and praised the support of Sky Sports who will broadcast the fight

She said: “It’s crazy and it’s amazing.

“I’ve always been with Sky so maybe I don’t appreciate it as much as I should do because some people who turn pro don’t get the backing of Sky network.”

Former three-division champion Rigondeaux was looking to topple Casimero and frustrated the Filipino with his constant movement in Carson.

Casimero could only land 47 punches in an underwhelming fight but that was marginally enough to edge Rigondeaux on split decision, winning 115-113, 112-116, 117-111.

"My expectation is knockout. I wanted a knockout," Casimero said after the bout. "I tried to do my best to knock him out but Rigondeaux was always running and running.

"I’m focused on [the] knockout but Rigondeaux was always running and no fighting."

In the lead-up to the fight, the Filipino had spoken about knocking out the Cuban in three rounds.

Casimero was seen at times during the fight dropping his gloves out of frustration, demanding Rigondeaux engage.

Rigondeaux did connect on counter-punches as he attempted to tire Casimero who opted not to chase and was unable to unleash his power.

The uneventful bout led to boos from the Carson crowd, although the decision was tight and Rigondeaux defended his tactics.

"God gave me those skills, and that's how I display them," Rigondeaux said.