Los Angeles (AFP)
The poster is already salivating: Mexican Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, world champion middleweight, decided to climb two categories to challenge the Russian Sergei Kovalev, WBO light heavyweight champion, November 2 in Las Vegas.
"It's official, I'm happy to announce that I climb two categories to face one of the most powerful opponents" among the light heavyweight, tweeted Friday Alvarez (52 wins including 35 by KO, a loss, two draws) ) which will be the first fight in the under 79 kg.
Alvarez, 29, who owns the WBA and WBC middleweight titles (under 73 kg), had been stripped of his IBF belt in early August, after negotiations for a fight, for the defense of that title, with the Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko failed.
The Mexican star, considered as one of the best boxers of the planet did not delay to find a new challenge, of weight, with this duel which promises to be raised against Kovalev (34 victory of which 29 by KO, three defeats, a loser).
The 36-year-old Russian remains on a victorious defense of his WBO belt against the British Anthony Yarde, beaten by KO in the 11th round.
"The second phase of my career is going exactly as we had planned and that's why we continue to make big fights, to get into boxing history books," Alvarez told ESPN's US channel. .
"Kovalev is a dangerous puncher, and obviously he's better cut, but that's the kind of challenge and risk that I like to face," added the one whose promoter is former boxing star Oscar De La Hoya.
© 2019 AFP