But first, ESPN+ has a card from Russia with a title eliminator in the junior middleweight divisions with former WBO (and Canelo victim) Liam Smith facing Magomed Kurbanov.
Kurbanov is an undefeated and talented fighter but has been out of the ring for twenty-five months, while Smith hasn't fought for almost seventeen.
Smith has won three straight since his 2018 loss to Jaime Munguia and has fought better competition than Kurbanov, but this is a 50-50 fight and it might be tough for Smith to win a decision on the road.
Of course, the big news is Canelo Alvarez placing his WBA and WBC super-middleweight titles against the WBO version held by Billy Joe Saunders with the winner holding three of the four championships in the division from Arlington, Texas.
Saunders has been attempting to get inside the head of Alvarez with complaints about the size of the ring, remarks to Mexican reporters, and general mind games that bring to mind the tactics of Saunders' cousin Tyson Fury.
However, this is a chance to show how much Canelo has progressed since the last time that he faced a slick boxing southpaw as the last time he faced one similar to Saunders, he received yet another generous decision in a 2014 split decision win over Erislandy Lara.
Canelo has improved since that win and Saunders doesn't always impress in victory, but I have a feeling that like Tyson Fury, Saunders fights best when challenged, and I just cannot get past his brilliant win over David Lemieux.
I think Saunders has a real chance to pull this upset, but the Texas judges, the aura of Canelo, and his own style with its tendency to bore may all work against Saunders.
The co-feature pits Elwin Soto against Katsunari Takayama for Soto's WBO light flyweight title.
Soto will be fighting for the first time since signing with Matchroom Boxing and will be defending his title for the third time against the veteran Takayama, who held the minimumweight title on three occasions between 2007 and 2015.
Takayama won a six-round decision in December in the first fight of his comeback but will have plenty to overcome against Soto, including ring rust, age, and fighting on the road.
In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 59-56.
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