CANELO ALVAREZ VS. LIAM SMITH FULL FIGHT OFFICIAL | 154 WBO CHAMPIONSHIP JR. MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT

HBO PPV Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith http://www.boxingscene.com/canelo-alvarez-vs-liam-smith-finalized-154-917-on-ppv--106017 It’s a far cry from the fight fans hoped to see involving Canelo Alvarez, but the Mexican star’s next bout is official. Alvarez, who is the lineal middleweight champ, will return to 154 pounds to take on junior middleweight beltholder Liam Smith on Sept. 17, it was announced Friday. The fight, which doesn’t have an official location yet, will be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View. Canelo and Gennady Golovkin were in talks to fight in the biggest fight that could be made in boxing, but it was learned Wednesday that the sides agreed to wait until Fall 2017. “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 Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs). “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.” Alvarez, 25, is regarded as the biggest star in boxing in the wake of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s exits from the sport. The red-headed Mexican, who trains in San Diego, topped Miguel Cotto in November to win the middleweight crown and defended it with a highlight-reel KO of Amir Khan in May. Both Cotto and Khan are big names in boxing, but Smith is far from one. The 27-year-old Brit is undefeated, but an unknown to American sports fans. He’s never faced anyone of note or even a top-15 fighter at 154 pounds. Smith won the title with a knockout of John Thompson in October and defended it twice against pedestrian opposition. “I am delighted to get the opportunity to defend my world title against the biggest name in world boxing and to headline in the U.S. which is a dream I have had since I started in the sport of boxing,” said Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs). “This fight allows me to make my name in the U.S. 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.” Said Oscar De La Hoya, who promotes Canelo: “This fight will be a slugfest between two heavy hitters, and I have little doubt that it will end with a 10-count. Canelo is the biggest star in our sport today, and with a victory on September 17, at the age of just 26 he can add yet another chapter to his already-incredible career.”