World champion Liam Smith believes he is being overlooked in his superfight with Canelo Alvarez and has vowed to cause a huge upset.
The Merseyside light-middleweight puts his WBO title on the line this Saturday night, exclusively live on BoxNation, as he battles the Mexican superstar at the 80,000 seater AT&T Stadium in Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) and Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) held their final press conference, today at the great AT&T Stadium, ahead of their highly anticipated showdown that will be aired live on Saturday, September 17, presented by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. The fighting stars were joined by Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner, Bernard Hopkins, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones, Director of HBO Sports Tony Walker, and the full pay-per-view undercard.
It seems practically nobody in the boxing world truly believes superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior is really retired. Mayweather, the last time anyone asked him, insisted he is indeed “done” and is content now helping out his growing stable of young fighters. Yet still the 49-0 great is expected by many to return to the ring for fight number-50. Not only that, but plenty of fighters are hoping they will get a date with “Money” (Manny Pacquiao recently stating how he wants a rematch with Floyd).
Bringing in the large crowds like he usually does, Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) made his grand arrival Texas at the undercard media work outat the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel and Convention Center today. Alvarez is scheduled to battle Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) in a live 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship at AT&T Stadium this Saturday, September 17 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on presented live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Is Mexican star and upcoming WBO 154-pound title challenger Saul Canelo Alvarez having weight troubles? This is the word according to whispers out in Texas – rumours Canelo and his team deny. But trainer Joe Gallagher told RingTV.com that if Canelo does fail to make 154 for Saturday’s fight, there will be no fight. Gallagher says there will not be a catch-weight fight, at all.
“If Canelo doesn’t make weight, [we’ll take] our paycheck,” Gallagher stated. “Saul Alvarez and his team – I have huge respect for them. They’re professionals. I don’t expect any slip-ups at the weigh-in. But to let everyone know: if Saul Alvarez doesn’t make 154 – there’ll be no fight.”
SMITH: “WHEN CANELO LOSES HIS TEAM WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE REMATCH”
America’s boxing media flocked to the Gaylord Texan Resort in Arlington today as reigning WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith put on a show for the cameras ahead of his blockbuster showdown with Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. The history-making Liverpudlian looked in sensational form as he was put through his paces by trainer Joe Gallagher.
Speaking to Ring TV after his workout Smith said: “It’s not the biggest fight of (Canelo’s) career now, but when he loses it will be and his team will do everything possible to get the rematch. Yes, I’m the champion and it’s my biggest fight, but it’s a fight I’ve asked for since I became champion.
With September being National Hispanic Heritage Month, former two-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) will take back Mexican Independence Day weekend for Latino fight fans in his upcoming battle against WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs). Reclaiming the distinctive weekend is a greater symbol of the arrival of Canelo Alvarez to the very top of the sport, as the last Mexican fighter who owned the action-packed weekend was Golden Boy Promotions’ Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya.
Oscar De La Hoya is of course confident his fighter, Mexican superstar Saul Canelo Alvarez will emerge victorious in his upcoming 154-pound WBO title challenge of a very live underdog indeed in Liam Smith, and Oscar has laid out his plans for Canelo for after the September 17 figh. Speaking with HBO in a piece to promote the Smith fight in Texas, De La Hoya said Alvarez will continue his ascension to the middleweight division he says he will move up to on a full time basis only when his body is ready.
“We envision Canelo doing a third fight in 2016 either at or close to the middleweight limit and then a fight on Cinco de Mayo at 160 before facing Golovkin in the fall. I know Canelo-Golovkin is the biggest fight to make; the fighters know it’s the biggest fight to make and the fans know it’s the biggest fight to make. I have been clear that Canelo will fight Golovkin at 160-pounds and we have a verbal agreement to do it in the fall of 2017. But in the meantime, Canelo is going to build up to being a true middleweight.”
On Mexican Independence Weekend, Golden Boy Promotions will offer the world championship battle between heavy punchers, former two-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) and WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion, Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs), on online pay-per-view via new site, www.goldenboyppv.com. Live from the home of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, www.goldenboyppv.com will allow fans the opportunity to watch this mega-fight on the device of their choice on September 17. This online offering is designed to reach those consumers who don’t have access to the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast that’s available through cable TV, satellite and telco pay-per-view providers.