(Photo credit: Behind The Gloves)
Boxing fans, the great year is continuing to get even better.
Today it was announced that WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) will face former two-time world champion Amir King Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) on Saturday, May 7, Cinco De Mayo weekend, in a match-up of two of the biggest stars in boxing. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
This will be Canelo’s first title defense of 2016 and marks Khan’s first return to the ring since his victory over Chris Algieri last May at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
As the middleweight champion of the world, I will take on the best fighters in the sport and on Cinco De Mayo weekend, I look forward to making the first defense of my titles, said Canelo Alvarez. Amir was a decorated amateur, a two-time world champion and is in the prime of his career. Fans are in for a great fight on May 7.
I know Canelo fights the best and wouldnt pass up the opportunity to face me like others have, said Amir Khan. My goal is to always fight the biggest names and the best fighters that is why Im excited for this fight. Also, I would like to thank my team and Golden Boy Promotions for this opportunity. I know I have the speed and ability to beat him and will give my fans what they deserve on May 7.
The fight will be promoted exclusively by Golden Boy Promotions.
We are committed to putting on the biggest and best fights in boxing, said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO, Oscar De La Hoya. Canelo is the biggest star in the sport and as he demonstrated against James Kirkland and Miguel Cotto last year, he is only getting better. Those who predicted that he would take an easy fight for his first defense have been proven wrong once again. As for Amir, he has won his last five fights including an incredible performance against Devon Alexander, and now that he is back where he belongs at Golden Boy Promotions, his future is very bright, once again.
