Famed Mexican fighter Canelo Álvarez will jump up two weight classes to fight WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena November 2nd.
The event will stream exclusively on DAZN and tickets will go on sale September 18th at AXS.com
“We promised to make this fight happen, and now we are delivering it,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy.
Álvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs), who is coming off a close but unanimous winover Daniel Jacobs in a middleweight championship unification fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend, will take aim at a world title in a fourth division after negotiations for a much-anticipated third fight with nemesis Gennady Golovkin fell through.
“The second phase of my career is continuing just as we had planned, and that’s why we are continuing to make great fights to enter into the history books of boxing,” Álvarez said in a release. “That’s also why I’ve decided to jump two weight classes against one of the most feared champions of recent years. Kovalev is a dangerous puncher, and he’s naturally the bigger man, but that’s the kind of challenges and risks that I like to face.”
Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), a three-time champion at 175lbs, is coming off of an impressive knockout of Britain’s Anthony Yarde to retain the WBO title in Russia last month. It will mark the 17th consecutive world title bout for the 36-year-old knockout artist.
“In order to be the best you have to beat the best,” Kovalev said. “I have always tried to fight the toughest opponents in my division, but many have ducked me throughout my career. Canelo wanted to fight me; to step up to higher weight and challenge for my belt. I will be ready.”
