Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders are set for tomorrow night’s main event on DAZN, with both making weight, meaning all three belts are officially on the line, and we’re good to go.
Canelo (55-1-2, 37 KO) will defend his WBC and WBA super middleweight titles, coming in at 167.4, with WBO titleholder Saunders (30-0, 14 KO) weighing in at 167.8, both under the 168 lb limit.
There was some clear tension in the staredown between the two, but no pushing and shoving or extra theatrics. And it has to be said both guys looked in great shape.
“I’ve been in big fights before, I have the experience to deal with it,” Canelo told Chris Mannix through an interpreter. “He’s a difficult fighter and a southpaw, but at this level you have to adjust to anything and everything. I’m ready for anything. I expect a hard fight, especially in the beginning rounds.”
How to Watch Canelo vs Saunders
Date: Saturday, May 8 | Start Time: 8:00 pm ET
Location: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX
Streaming: DAZN
Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
“I have the belief, the spirit and winning mentality. I don’t come here to lay down, I come here to win,” Saunders said. “I don’t think Alvarez has faced a man with as much heart and determination to win as me. It’s gonna be a good fight. He’s a great champion, but to be honest with you, I’ve come here to take all of these titles, and take them by storm.”
Saunders added, “I haven’t lost since 2008. I’m 30-0 and unbeaten. He has to do something differently to beat me, not the other way around. The key to this fight, obviously everyone’s got to be on their A-game. As long as I bring my fighting spirit and my brains, I’ve got it.”
On the DAZN three-fight undercard:
- Elwin Soto (18-1, 12 KO) is set to defend his WBO junior flyweight title against veteran Katsunari Takayama (32-8, 12 KO), with both coming in just under the 108 lb limit, no problems, title on the line. Soto, 24, weighed in at 107.8, with the 37-year-old Takayama at 107.6.
- Kieron Conway (16-1-1, 3 KO) weighed in at 154 even for his minor trinket defense against former Olympian Souleymane Cissokho (12-0, 8 KO), who came in at 153.6. The 29-year-old Cissokho is someone trying to get moving into contention, while Conway, 25, wants to show he can be more than a domestic-level UK fighter.
- Heavyweights Frank Sanchez (17-0, 13 KO) and veteran Nagy Aguilera (21-10, 14 KO) weighed in at 237.6 and 238.2, respectively. The 28-year-old Sanchez will be a huge favorite here, as Aguilera, 34, is years past his best days, and his best days weren’t that great. But to be fair to the fighter and ignore the matchmaking, Aguilera came in in good shape (his lowest weight since 2014) and should be expected to give it a genuine try, he always has.
Prelim fights, which will stream free on various DAZN social media platforms:
- Marc Castro 132.4 vs Irving Castillo 127.6 (6 rounds)
- Keyshawn Davis 138 vs Jose Antonio Meza 138 (6 rounds)
- Christian Alan Gomez Duran 146.4 vs Xavier Wilson 147.8 (8 rounds)
- Kelvin Davis 143.8 vs Jan Marsalek 140.4 (4 rounds)