Canelo to challenge Liam Smith on September 17
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) will fight WBO light middleweight champion Liam Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) on September 17 in the USA at a venue to be determined.
Canelo, 25, won the WBC middleweight title when he outpointed Miguel Cotto last November, although he has never fought above 155 pounds and will only be dropping one pound to challenge unbeaten Briton Smith, who will be making his third title defence but steps up in the level of opposition.
"I am very pleased to announce my next fight against Liam Smith, a tremendous fighter with real knockout power, and the WBO junior middleweight world title owner," said Canelo. "I have no doubt that this fight will be give and take, which will fill the expectations of the fans, and I will work with all the enthusiasm as I always do to get the upper hand on September 17."
The Mexican scored a sixth round KO over Amir Khan in May, but Canelo vacated the WBC belt soon after instead of negotiating a fight with interim champion Gennady Golovkin, so he could have more time to get used to fighting at 160 pounds. Golovkin was then handed the title. However, both camps continued to talk and have this week agreed to fight in 2017, as long as each fighter keeps winning.
Smith, 27, won the vacant WBO title by a seventh round KO over John Thompson in October and has since made two easy defences. He stopped Jimmy Kelly in the seventh round in December and Predrag Radosevic in the second round in June. Smith will now make his US debut.
"I am delighted to get the opportunity to defend my world title against the biggest name in world boxing and to headline in the US which is a dream I have had since I started in the sport of boxing," said Smith. "This fight allows me to make my name in the US and show just how good I am and this is the big stage that will enable me to do that. I am confident of winning this fight and returning to the great city of Liverpool with my belt still around my waist."