With the WBC and WBA Super Middleweight belts around his waist, Canelo Alvarez has his sights set on unifying the division by year’s end. First, though, he’ll have to take the WBO title from undefeated spoiler Billy Joe Saunders tonight (Sat., May 8, 2021) in a DAZN-streamed main event, which will emanate from inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of tonight’s main event below. The DAZN-streamed broadcast (watch it here) kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, with Alvarez and Saunders likely to make the walk closer to 11 p.m. ET.
Alvarez, a former unified Middleweight champion who has dabbled in higher weight classes, officially started a full-time tenure at 158 pounds with his title-winning domination of Callum Smith in Dec. 2020 (watch highlights). Having dispatched WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim (watch highlights), he now turns his attention to fellow Middleweight emigrant Saunders, who’s defended his title with wins over Marcelo Coceres and Martin Murray.
Earlier in the evening, Elwin “La Pulga” Soto puts his WBO Light Flyweight title on the line against Japanese standout Katsunari Takayama, Super Welterweight Kieron Conway looks to halt the rise of Olympic bronze medalist Souleymane Cissokho, and Cuban Heavyweight prospect Frank Sanchez takes on veteran Nagy Aguilera.
Canelo Vs. Saunders Quick Results:
Canelo Alvarez def. Billy Joe Saunders via retirement in round eight
Elwin Soto def. Katsunari Takayama via technical knockout in round nine
Souleymane Cissokho def. Kieron Conway via split decision
Frank Sanchez def. Nagy Aguilera via technical decision
Marc Castro def. Irving Castillo via technical knockout in round four
Keyshawn Davis def. Jose Antonio Meza via unanimous decision
Christian Alan Gomez Duran def. Xavier Wilson via technical knockout in round two
Kelvin Davis def. Jan Marsalek via unanimous decision
Canelo Vs. Saunders Round-By-Round Updates:
WBC/IBF/WBA “Super” Super Middleweight Championship: Canelo Alvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders
Round one: Saunders feinting with the lead hand as Canelo slowly advances. Canelo tries a body shot. Counter right downstairs. Saunders jab, Canelo left hook halfway through. Counter jab by Canelo, eats a jab from Saunders. Canelo throws a hard right hand in the corner. Saunders tries a combination. Canelo digs a right to the body against the ropes. Saunders tries to back him off with a 1-2. 10-9 Alvarez.
Round two: Saunders sitting down a bit more on his jabs. They trade body shots inside. Clinch. Right hand from Canelo, then on the counter. Saunders digs a two-piece downstairs and clinches. Combination from Saunders, 1-2 from Canelo. They trade body blows halfway through. Hard right to the body to answer a Saunders combo. Saunders jabbing, circling. Alvarez with a right downstairs, then a 1-2 upstairs. Saunders straight left, Canelo goes low-high with right hands. 1-2. 10-9, 20-18 Alvarez.
Round three: Canelo back on the patient advance. Another right hand to the body. Left hook downstairs. Saunders staying mobile, not offering much besides the jab. There’s a two-piece. Jab connects. Halfway through. Jab from Canelo. Canelo doubles up the right hand against the ropes. Good left hook to the body, right upstairs behind it. They exchange in the center. Counter left hook from Canelo. Saunders lands jabs. 10-9, 30-27 Alvarez.
Round four: Saunders firing his jab, takes a 3-2. Good body shot from Canelo. Saunders tries a four-piece, avoids a combo. Halfway through. Bit of a lull, then a pair of rights to the body from Canelo. Another right to the midsection. Saunders lands jabs, eats a heavy uppercut inside. Clinch. Canelo tries a 1-2. 10-9, 40-36 Alvarez.
Round five: Saunders a little more active to start this round, looking to keep Canelo at bay with his lead hand. Canelo with a right to the body. Another. Stiff double jab by Saunders snaps Canelo’s head back. Canelo tries an uppercut, clinch. Saunders lead left blocked, looping left is not. Better round from Saunders so far. Landing jabs as he circles. 1-2 downstairs. Canlo digs another right downstairs. 10-9 Saunders, 49-46 Alvarez.
Round six: Canelo lands a good right hand in the corner, then a short uppercut in the clinch. Sneaky jab by Saunders, one from Canelo in return. Another right to the body. Saunders answers to the body as well, lands a straight left. Nice lefts halfway through the round. Clinch. Saunders looking comfortable, managing range well. Two-piece to the body. Canelo digs a right as well. Short uppercut by Canelo . Jab exchange. Canelo body shot, eats a check right hook. Uppercut whiffs. 10-9 Saunders, 58-56 Alvarez.
Round seven: Saunders fires a combo, clinches. Canelo to the body as they trade in the center. Right hand downstairs. 1-2 upstairs. More body work. They trade jabs, Canelo tries an uppercut. Halfway through. Clinch. Saunders with a left downstairs. Canelo misses a 1-2. Counter right by Canelo. 10-9, 68-65 Alvarez.
Round eight: Saunders still getting the better of the jabs. Combination attempt. Canelo looks for a 1-1-2, then a 1-2. Clinch. Nice counter uppercut by Canelo halfway through, prompting a clinch. Left hook to the body and he looks invigorated. Walking Saunders down, waving the crowd on. Combinations against the ropes. Clinch. Counter right lands for Canelo. Sneaky left uppercut. 10-9, 78-74 Alvarez.
Saunders’ right eye is seriously damaged, and they wave it off in the corner.
Final result: Alvarez def. Saunders by retirement
For more on “Canelo vs. Saunders” and other boxing-related events, click here.