It's official. After thoroughly dominating Avni Yildirim, making the mandatory challenger quit on his stool after three rounds, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, with promoter Eddie Hearn by his side, announced that the unified super middleweight champion will be fighting WBO super middleweight titleholder Billy Joe Saunders on May 8.
"It's Canelo against Saunders — May the 8th — venue announced shortly as he continues to move toward the undisputed championship at 168," Hearn declared fresh off Canelo's victory Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday night, live on DAZN.
Already in possession of the WBA and WBC titles, Canelo needs this upcoming crack at Saunders and then a shot at IBF titleholder Caleb Plant to become the first undisputed champion at super middleweight. That journey continues with the technically-sound Saunders.
"He's a very difficult fighter," Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KOs) said of the undefeated Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs). "He wants to unify. We want to go for it. We need to go for it."
That being said, the 30-year-old Alvarez is already bracing himself for the outspoken Saunders to talk trash building up to their huge clash on May 8. Saunders has been known to get under the skin of his opponents leading up to his bouts.
"People talk whatever, but I'm a very mature fighter," Alvarez said. "I know how to control myself."
A win May 8, and Alvarez will inch one step closer to carving out another slice of boxing history.
"It's because it hasn't been done," Canelo continued live on DAZN. "I want to make history.
"At 168, no one has done it in the world," he added about being crowned undisputed. "I want to make my own history."