Billy Joe Saunders has won the race for a lucrative showdown with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on the traditional Cinco de Mayo boxing weekend, according to reports.
Canelo has been on the hunt for his next opponent since toppling Sergey Kovalev to clinch the WBO light-heavyweight title back in November.
Yet the Mexican, now a four-weight world champion, is moving back down to super-middleweight in his next outing to defend the WBA crown he snatched from Britain’s Rocky Fielding back in December 2018.
Reports have suggested that WBO champion Saunders and WBA ‘Super’ chief Callum Smith were in with the best chance of landing a shot at Canelo next.
Canelo Alvarez nears decision on fight with Billy Joe Saunders or Callum Smith
Saul Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders fight deal 'almost done', claim boxing chiefs
And according to ESPN Deportes’ Salvador Rodriguez, Saunders will lock horns with boxing’s No.1 cash cow on May 2.
The date is a special one on the boxing calendar, as it falls on the weekend before Cinco de Mayo [May 5] – which marks an annual celebration in Mexico to commemorate the army’s victory over the French Empire in 1862.
Floyd Mayweather in talks to fight Conor McGregor and Khabib in the same day
Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo’s promoter, effectively made Cinco de Mayo a boxing tradition by headlining a number of cards on the date in the early 2000’s.
Now Saunders looks set to battle it out with Canelo on that iconic weekend in what will certainly the biggest test of his 11-year professional career.
DAZN confirms UK boxing launch as 'Netflix of sport' targets Premier League
The Hertfordshire-born traveller is a two-weight world champion, having tasted glory as both a middleweight and a super-middleweight, and is widely regarded as one of British boxing’s most naturally gifted pugilists.
Nevertheless, he is taking a significant step up in class by agreeing to a date of destiny with Canelo – who some feel is the greatest fighter on the planet right now.
Read More
Today's top sport stories on Daily Star
Mayweather's warning to Fury and Wilder Fury's emotional phone call with dad Coronavirus causes Premier League ban Cheltenham fans' coronavirus warning
The latter has only suffered one defeat in 56 contests, which came when he crossed paths with pound-for-pound icon Floyd Mayweather at the tender age of 23 back in 2013.
He has toppled a host of stellar names; such as Gennady Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley.
Source: Read Full Article