Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KO) has admitted a four-fight year is on his agenda with the Mexican set to meet Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs) to unify at super-middleweight on May 8 at AT&T Stadium, in Texas.
But WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury believes Saunders is primed to pull off a shock against Canelo.
Fury and Saunders are well known as good friends, the two have trained together, get along well and have always supported each other in fights.
“Billy Joe Saunders is 100 per cent mentally in the right place, he knows what he has to do and he will do it, he will rise up to the top and claim greatness.” Fury said.
“I was wrote off many times in the past and have always come through. We are cut from the same cloth, same breed of animals, Canelo has fought them all but never a Fighting Gypsy, we are a different breed of animal to anything he has come across before. Domination with the help of God.” Fury added.
Saunders knockedout Martin Murray in his last outing in December. Earlier this week, the Briton posted a video clip of him moving in the ring on social media, and he looked really great. He already looks in good shape, and his mobility is something Canelo has never encountered before in his career.
Alvarez puts his WBC and WBA belts on the line, while Saunders will defend his WBO super middleweight title. A Canelo win would appear to lead to an undisputed title fight in September with the roster. A Saunders win would likely result in an immediate rematch with Canelo.
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn expects more than 60,000 fans in attendance for the fight between Canelo and Saunders.
“The presale numbers were fantastic, and I’m sure over the Cinco de Mayo weekend we’ll have a full house to watch this massive unification fight,” Hearn said.
