Next up for Canelo Alvarez: Billy Joe Saunders.
Alvarez, who stopped Avni Yildirim after three rounds Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, will face his fellow beltholder from the U.K. in a super middleweight title-unification bout on May 8, it was announced after the fight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said the site would be announced soon.
Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KOs) has said his goal is to unify the 168-pound titles. He holds the WBA and WBC belts, Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs) the WBO title. Caleb Plant is the IBF champ.
“We want to unify the division,” said Alvarez, referring to his next fight. “He’s a world champion. We want to go for it and we need to go for it. He’s a very difficult fighter and has a championship, the WBO.”
No one has held all four super middleweight titles simultaneously and few have accomplished the feat in any division.
“In the world only a few fighters have done it, the best,” said Alvarez said. “I want to make history and be one of the best in the world.”
Meanwhile, Saunders is confident he’ll have his hand raised.
“Canelo, I’m ready to rock and roll,” he said. “You have to dare to be great, and you aren’t going to be a great if you don’t beat the greats. I believe I am the only one with the footwork, knowhow, skillset, mindset and brain to unlock that door in Canelo.
“He’s the main man in the sport and the face of boxing. You have to give him respect. He hasn’t ducked anyone, he’s beaten good names, but nobody is unbeatable, and I believe I have got the tools to beat him if I use them properly and if the gamelan comes off that I believe works.”
Saunders last fought on Dec. 4, when he defeated veteran Martin Murray by a near-shutout.
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