Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders pose after their weigh-in
(Ed Mulholland/Matchroom)
Billy Joe Saunders battles Canelo Alvarez in Dallas tonight looking to unify the super-middleweight world titles and pull off one of the biggest shocks in British boxing history.
The Briton puts his WBO title on the line, while the Mexican superstar will defend the WBA and WBC titles at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which is the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Saunders has not yet been at this level before, though he has stepped up to the big occasion in the past when travelling to Canada to outfox David Lemieux, while also keeping his cool when tempers flared against Chris Eubank Jr.
But Canelo presents an entirely different challenge, with the power to be respected at least, if not feared, as well as a more polished arsenal, having worked on his skills since being outclassed by Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Can Saunders at least get Canelo to respect his power? That should be vital to the outcome of this one, given Canelo was able to take the punishment Gennadiy Golovkin dished out over 24 rounds. Tune in for all the live updates, round-by-round, undercard results as well as build-up and instant reaction from social media to the biggest fight of the year so far:
STEVE BUNCE’S BIG FIGHT PREVIEW: Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders meet in a fight a long time coming
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Elwin Soto vs Katsunari Takayama
Round 3: Soto landed more power punches in the first two rounds of this fight than Conway did in the entire 10 rounds of his fight earlier on. And yet one judge still had him winning by five points…
Anyway, Takayama tries to keep it a little longer in the third here as he attempts to slow the pace down after a bruising opening six minutes.
Some decent body work from Takayama probably means he takes the round. The beginning of a superb comeback?
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 03:17
Elwin Soto vs Katsunari Takayama
Round 2: Takayama looks to be boxing well for the first minute of the second round but then yet another massive right hand lands on the temple of the challenger and Soto has him in trouble once more.
Every time the clubbing right of Soto lands on Takayama he looks in danger of going down.
Takayama’s jab keeps Soto off for the remainder of the round, but this seems like a matter of time before the Mexican can land the finishing blow.
(Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.)
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 03:13
Elwin Soto vs Katsunari Takayama
Round 1: Here we go then! Big love for Soto around the arena as we get underway. Takayama marches out straight across to Soto and looks to establish his jab.
OH BUT THEN A HUGE RIGHT FROM SOTO! A massive straight shot from Soto lands on the jaw of Takayama and the Japanese star does a little dance!
He recovers quickly but for a moment that was worrying for the challenger… AND NOW AGAIN! Soto slams a body shot into the chest of Takayama and his legs are all over the place once more.
He is saved by the bell but a HUGE opening three minutes for Soto!
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 03:09
Elwin Soto vs Katsunari Takayama
No time for messing around! We’re almost ready for our penultimate fight of the night for the WBO light flyweight title between EIwin Soto and Katsunari Takayama.
Challenger Takayama’s 16th world title fight at the age of 37, taking on champion Iwin Soto who won the title by shocking Carlos Buitrago last time out.
(Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.)
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 03:03
Cissokho beats Conway
Have to say, those Cissokho-Conway scorecards don’t bode well for the kind of jab and move style of someone like Billy Joe Saunders. Cissokho undoubtedly won the first five or six rounds with his jab. Worrying that one of the judges gave some of those to Conway…
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 02:56
Alvarez ‘ready for the fight’
Canelo says this is a ‘difficult fight’ for him but that he is ‘ready’ to secure the victory this evening.
(Michelle Farsi/Matchroom.)
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 02:54
Souleymane Cissokho beats Kieran Conway by split decision
Wow that was much closer than we thought! Cissokho deservedly gets the nod. The judges scored it 97-92 Conway, 96-93 Cissokho and 95-94 for Cissokho.
How could you have Conway winning that by five points?
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 02:51
Canelo in the building
The man almost all of the 70,000 fans in the arena have come to see is finally here.
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 02:49
Kieron Conway vs Souleymane Cissokho
Round 10: Conway will look back on that ninth round as an opportunity missed. Cissokho comes out in the tenth looking refreshed and lands some nice jabs.
The Frenchman then connects with a lovely uppercut and the belief looks to have disappeared from Conway after a stellar three minutes.
HUGE RIGHT FROM CISSOKHO! Conway opens up and gets caught plum on the chin with a vicious hook. How did the Brit stay up?
Cissokho sees out the remainder of the final round and hears the final bell. Surely a wide decision victory for the Frenchman.
(Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.)
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 02:47
Kieron Conway vs Souleymane Cissokho
Round 9: OH MY GOODNESS! OUT OF NOTHING!
Out of nowhere a right uppercut from Conway lands right on the eye of Cissokho and the Frenchman is down clutching his face!! It’s a long count but he eventually gets off his knees and back to his feet.
A barrage comes from Conway as he looks for the stoppage with Cissokho shielding on the ropes.
The Brit can’t quite find the finishing punch as he marches forward knowing this is his chance. Cissokho does well to get out of the round.
Breathless three minutes but Conway has just one round to find a knockout.
Dylan Terry9 May 2021 02:42
