SAUL ‘CANELO’ ALVAREZ could be set to fight Britain’s Billy Joe Saunders in front of 70,000 fans in Dallas, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Mexican superstar will attempt to unify the WBC and WBA super-middleweight titles with Saunders’ WBO strap when they face off on May 8.
And while Canelo traditionally fights in Las Vegas, his last two contests have been in other US states due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, Hearn has revealed that the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium is the front runner to welcome a near-capacity crowd for the blockbuster fight.
Speaking to iFL TV, he said: “Look, it’s between Vegas and Dallas.
“Everyone loves to go to Vegas but the issue at the moment is I think it’s at 20 per cent capacity (for venues) with the potential to go to 50 per cent maybe in the next couple of weeks.
“Dallas, the meeting with the Cowboys and Jerry Jones (Cowboys general manager), is that we would be allowed 70,000 people there by May.
“So, even selfishly it would be the most incredible event.
“We are just finalising everything at the moment and there will be an official announcement regarding the Canelo event on Thursday.”
In typical Billy Joe fashion, Hearn was forced to deny the WBO champ had ‘ruptured his testicle’ after the Brit went on a social media wind-up earlier this week.
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And while Saunders continues to jovially play down his chances in the fight with Alvarez – who has not lost since he fought Floyd Mayweather in 2013 – Hearn believes he has as good a chance as anyone to topple the Mexican star.
He said: “I know Billy is training hard. This is the kind of fight that Billy switches on for.
“Billy knows that if he wins this fight – is it the greatest win for a British fighter on away territory of all-time?
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Billy Joe Saunders has it in him to produce the performance.
“He’s one of those guys that when he’s flat, he’s flat. When he’s unmotivated, he’s unmotivated. But when’s switched on and sharp he is one of the best fighters in the world.
“And he is, in my opinion, the most dangerous threat to Canelo Alvarez. And I know that he has the bit between his teeth. And probably a bit of fear in his belly that he needs to be at his very best. I believe he will be. I can’t wait.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
