‘Canelo’ Alvarez has joined the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

Four-Division titlist and former WBO Jr. Middleweight & Light Heavyweight World Champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, has joined the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, by making a donation to those fighting on the front line.

Canelo has displayed his good hearted nature on various occasions, as he gave his support to children with cancer, sick people and those affected in Mexico by an earthquake.

On this occasion, Canelo donated 950 personal protection kits for health workers at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara who personally tends to Covid-19 infected citizens.

Jaime Andrade Villanueva, Director General of Guadalajara hospitals, was overwhelmed by the donation and announced that the world champion contributed KN95 masks, overalls, and eye goggles.

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2019): In order to comply with the World Boxing Organization’s (“WBO”) prohibition against its champions holding titles from other sanctioning organizations in multiple weight classes, four-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) and the WBO have reached an agreement for Canelo to vacate the WBO’s Light Heavyweight World Title. Canelo won the WBO title by defeating Sergey Kovalev via 11th-round knockout on Nov. 2, 2019. Canelo will maintain his status and privileges as a WBO Super Champion, including the privilege to be designated mandatory challenger to the WBO titleholder in any division.

Canelo said, “I know that my accomplishments in the ring have brought pride to my fans and my country. I have long enjoyed my relationship with the WBO and appreciate all they do to preserve and enhance the sport of boxing. This agreement allows the WBO to have its light heavyweight title contested regularly and allows me to pursue bouts against the best opponents, regardless of weight class.”

Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, president of the WBO, said, “Canelo has already accomplished much in boxing, and is still a young man. When his career is done, he will be regarded as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring, and one of Mexico’s best fighters ever. We look forward to his future fights against rivals at the top of the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and other divisions.”

“We completely support the decision made by Canelo Alvarez and the WBO,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Canelo made history by stopping Sergey Kovalev in impressive fashion to become a four-division world champion. Not only did he show that he is a real threat at 175 pounds, but he also demonstrated that he is fully capable of moving across several divisions to look for the most exciting fights for the fans. At the same time, we look forward to continue promoting our other WBO champions such as Patrick Teixeira and Franchon Crews-Dezurn.”

By Miguel Rivera

Francisco Valcarcel, president of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), believes Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya picked the perfect moment to finalize the showdown between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) and Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs).

Canelo will challenge Golovkin for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight titles on September 16th, during Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Fans have been asking for this fight for at least two years and the anticipation is sky high. The event is expected by everyone to be the biggest in boxing for 2017 – and the biggest since Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fought in May 2015.

Canelo is technically still the WBO junior middleweight champion – although the boxer has made it clear that he’s never coming back to 154. His most recent fight, on May 6th, took place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

“I think Oscar played it masterfully. He waited for the moment when Golovkin looks like he’s starting to get hit. Canelo is on the way up and was crowned the Mexican star with the victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.,” said Valcarcel to Jose Sanchez.

“It’s the ideal moment for boxing and the ideal economic moment for the fight. I think De La Hoya learned a lot from [his former promoter Bob] Arum and Arum is the master in that, combining the economic aspect and boxing.”

Veteran trainer and cutman Miguel Diaz, however, partially differed from Valcárcel’s opinion. He picks Golovkin to win the contest, but not with a knockout. Diaz expects a twelve round decision win.

“Between Canelo and Golovkin, I favor Golovkin even though he did not look very well in finishing his last fight with Daniel Jacobs,” Diaz said. “Gennady is a complete fighter and very strong. But I do not see a knockout. I see him winning by decision. ”

http://www.boxingscene.com/wbo-prez-de-la-hoya-picked-perfect-moment-canelo-golovkin–116628?print_friendly=1

By Elliot Foster

Liam Smith against Liam Williams was arguably the biggest highlight of Monday’s announcement regarding the BT Sport schedule. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the super-welterweight clash as part of his deal between BoxNation, his own broadcaster, and the aforementioned BT Sport. Reports last week suggested that the fight would be for the vacant WBO super-welterweight world title.

That belt, however, is currently held by Mexico’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who faces Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6. And a media release from Frank Warren’s office, just hours after the schedule announcement for the next few months, revealed that the fight between the Liverpudlian –– who lost the WBO title to Alvarez in Texas last September –– and Clydach Vale’s Williams, on April 8 at Manchester Arena, exclusively live on BoxNation and BT Sport, will instead be for Williams’ WBO European title at 154 pounds. Williams won the title against Gabor Gorbics on November 26, 2016, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Further details regarding the fight and the full card, which is headed by Terry Flanagan’s fifth defence of the WBO lightweight world title against number two-ranked Petr Petrov and will also feature the professional debut of two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams, will be revealed in due course.

– See more at: http://www.boxingscene.com/liam-williams-vs-liam-smith-wbo-european-belt-april-8–112916#sthash.ai6NQ0Iy.dpuf –

 Canelo Alvarez, left, and Liam Smith, right, face off with promoter Oscar De La Hoya, center, looking on after the official weigh-in for their upcoming title fight at the stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016.

Photos from the official weigh-in of Canelo Alvarez and Liam Smith on Sept. 16 at AT&T Stadium.

Canelo Alvarez, left, of Mexico and Liam Smith, right, of Great Britain pose after weigh-in for their WBO junior middleweight world championship fight at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 16, 2016 in Arlington, Texas.

Canelo Alvarez, left, and Liam Smith pose for photos after the official weigh-in for their upcoming title fight at the stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016.

Canelo Alvarez of Mexico poses during his weigh-in for his WBO junior middleweight world championship fight against Liam Smith of Great Britain at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 16, 2016 in Arlington, Texas.

A general view before Canelo Alvarez of Mexico and Liam Smith of Great Britain weigh-in for their WBO junior middleweight world championship fight at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 16, 2016 in Arlington, Texas.

www.newsday.com/sports/boxing/canelo-alvarez-vs-liam-smith-weigh-in-pictures-1.12328198

 The Dallas Cowboys have made AT&T Stadium their home since 2009

By Andy Charles –

Liam Smith’s clash with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on September 17 will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith (23-0-1-KO13) is taking a significant step up in class to face former WBC middleweight champion Alvarez, whose most recent victory was a punishing sixth-round stoppage of Amir Khan in May.

Alvarez had been expected to take on Gennady Golovkin after beating Khan, but instead decided to give up the WBC belt and move back down a weight to take on Liverpudlian Smith, who holds the WBO Junior Middleweight title.

Smith won the belt last year when he knocked out John Thompson in seven rounds at the Manchester Arena.

Alvarez (47-1-1-KO32) previously held the WBA and WBC super-welterweight belts but lost them in 2013 when he suffered the only defeat of his professional career against Floyd Mayweather.

  Alvarez (right) knocked out Amir Khan in brutal fashion back in May

“Texas loves Canelo, and Canelo loves Texas so it was a no-brainer to have this fight at AT&T Stadium,” promoter Oscar De La Hoya said in a statement.

“Texas is like Canelo’s second home, and he has stated that he wants to fight in Texas once a year for his fans. My friend Jerry Jones [owner of the Cowboys] extended the invitation to Canelo to fight at AT&T Stadium, so it was an easy decision for us.”

AT&T Stadium has previously held a pair of high-profile Manny Pacquiao fights – against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito – back in 2013.

www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/10505313/liam-smith-v-canelo-alvarez-to-take-place-at-home-of-dallas-cowboys

 Canelo Alvarez podría enfrentar a Billy Joe Saunders en diciembre en México, de vencer a Liam Smith Christian Petersen/Getty Images –

MÉXICO — Aunque parezca difícil, existe una posibilidad de que el mexicano Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez pueda cerrar el 2016 con una pelea en territorio mexicano, lo cual apunta para el 10 de diciembre ante Billy Joe Saunders, si todo sale bien este 17 de septiembre ante el campeón súper welter de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo, Liam Smith.

Canelo estelarizará ante Smith el pago por evento de Golden Boy Promotions y HBO desde el AT&T Stadium de Arlington, Texas, y de ganar entonces verán la posibilidad de que pueda pelear en suelo azteca, donde con la ayuda de patrocinadores esperan lograr su vuelta por primera vez desde noviembre de 2011.

“Todo es posible, en México hay arenas y estadios muy bonitos, hay apoyo y patrocinios que nos hacen pensar que no es algo descabellado. No sabemos si pueda ser en este mismo 2016, todo depende del resultado de la pelea ante Smith, creo que una vez pasado eso será cosa de hablar con Óscar de la Hoya y ver si lo podemos arreglar”, aseguró Eddy Reynoso, entrenador de Alvarez.

La Ciudad de México con la Arena Ciudad de México, Nuevo León con el estadio BBVA Bancomer y Jalisco con el Estadio Chivas serían posibilidades para que pudiera pelear Canelo en suelo mexicano. El Estadio Azteca es otra opción pero parece que no se ha marinado aún esa posibilidad.

“Sinceramente no hemos hablado aún del Estadio Azteca, no se ha analizado, muchas cosas se han dicho de los récords que puede romper Saúl, la verdad es que nosotros no nos comparamos con nadie, queremos romper nuestros propios récords, nosotros nos preparamos concientemente para las peleas y la gente es la que nos ayuda a imponer marcas. No queremos perseguir a nadie en ese aspecto, hubo peleadores que hicieron cosas muy grandes, pero que a la edad de Saúl no habían logrado tantas cosas. Vamos a dejar que los resultados hablen”, compartió el entrenador jalisciense.

Una pelea en México ante Billy Joe Saunders o cualquier otro rival, pensando en el duelo entre Canelo y Gennady Golovkin como una posibilidad para el Estadio Azteca, serviría a Golden Boy Promotions y HBO para conocer el terreno y darse cuenta de las condiciones en que se podría dar el combate.

www.espndeportes.espn.com/boxeo/nota/_/id/2746360/team-canelo-no-descarta-pelear-en-mexico-en-diciembre

Photos: Steven Paston – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

WBO super welterweight champion Liam Smith came face-to-face with challenger Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for a second time at today’s London stop on the two-city  Canelo vs. Smith international press tour. ‘Beefy’ puts it all on the line against Alvarez at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on September 17th.

Smith lashed out at those in the US media who have labelled him as a “paper champion,” saying the American press weren’t in a position to comment as he’s never fought Stateside before.

“They’ll know in September that they shouldn’t be calling me a paper champion,” proclaimed Smith. “I haven’t fought out there just yet, but they’ll know why [it’s wrong to call me a paper champion] when I do. I’m going in there to stop Canelo. If I don’t stop him, it won’t be for the lack of trying.”

Alvarez, insisted he will not be underestimating Smith, despite heading into September’s mega-fight as the bookies’ clear favorite (currently 12:1).

“What can I say? Liam Smith is a great champion,” said Canelo. “He’s very strong and he’s very hungry. We’re going to prepare like never before, knowing what we know about Liam Smith. I can assure you this: we’re going to give the fans what they want to see.”

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/liam-smith-they-shouldnt-be-calling-me-a-paper-champion-347721

By Frank Warren –

Liam Smith didn’t need asking twice when it was suggested that he might like to defend his title against a certain Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, live and exclusive on BoxNation.