Canelo Alvarez versus Billy Joe Saunders is a done deal
Well it looks like WBC and WBA World Super Middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s (54-1-2, 36 KO’s) 2021 schedule is filling fast! It was already known that he was going to face Anvi “Mr. Robot” Yildirim (21-2, 12 KO’s) on February 27. Now, as told by the Athletic, it has been revealed that Alvarez will take on WBO World Super Middleweight champion “Superb” Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KO’s). Provided that Canelo exits the Yildirim bout unscathed and victorious, he will face Saunders on either the 1st or 8th of May.
On December 19, 2020 the Mexican superstar launched his official invasion of the 168-pound division. On that night, he bullied, bruised then violently boosted Callum “Mundo” Smith’s (27-1, 19 KO’s) WBA world title. Prior to his prizefight with Smith, Alvarez vowed to unify the division. Before he could sign with another champion however, Canelo had to address his WBC mandatory challenger Yildirim. Yet, mandatory or not, Mr. Robot will enter into that mega fight as a colossal underdog. Minus Yildirim getting his hands on the Wonder Woman wish stone, it is highly unlikely that he beats the redhead.
SAUNDERS SECOND CRACK
As far as Saunders is concerned, his patience and gamble appear to have been validated. Superb was offered the Canelo fight in the closing months of 2020 only to swiftly turn it away. Saunders felt the bout would circle back around and cited a lack of preparation time as his rationale for rejection. Saunders stated that he wanted a full and proper camp for a fight of the magnitude that Canelo would generate. Honestly this is hard to argue with. In fact, a great many boxing heads think that Mundo was greatly hampered by his truncated camp leading into the Alvarez fight.
It will be interesting to see if Saunders will make it to the fight though. The unpredictable UK boxer has a well-earned reputation of negative behavior. Outside the ring, Superb has filmed himself doing a number of unsavory things that have publicly blown up in the face; items such as hosting tutorials on how to beat your wife or mockingly asking a drug addict for sex acts. Sadly, Saunders has an even more impressive record of ruining signed matchups before fight night. Saunders has been the cause of four bouts not happening. He accomplished the feat twice with Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and two times with Martin Murray. The rationales range from injury to PED’s use.
So it is fun to hear that Canelo is attempting to be true to his word and try unifying the division. Yet, we will have to see if Saunders can make it to the ring. The bout does not take place until May, after all. This leaves Superb an excess of time to engage in any manner of self-deprecating, knuckleheaded behavior. Therefore, while it is intriguing to hear the bout has been made, first we must hold our breath and pray for good sense.
By: Bakari Simpson
