Boxing Picks 2021- Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders (May 8th)

There have been some solid cards over the last several months, but the largely absent fans has been a big miss for Boxing as much as other sports.

That all changes on Saturday.

In Dallas, Texas a new record for an indoor attendance has been announced as Canelo Alvarez looks to pick up another Super Middleweight World Title and move a step closer to Unification. It is a shame that the British fans can't really travel in the numbers they have been used to in support of Billy Joe Saunders, but the atmosphere should still be electric for a fight that has some real needle attached to it.

The undercard could have perhaps done with some beefing up, but the main event is what has been the trigger for the sales and I think this will be a good one on Saturday evening.

Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders

Three of the four main Super Middleweight World Titles are going to be on the line in Dallas when Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders meet in a big Unification fight.

The fans are back, and rightly so for an event like this, and I think there is plenty of intrigue about the fight which makes it one that shouldn't be missed.

Much depends on how Billy Joe Saunders has prepared for this fight- there is no doubting his skills, but he has never been in at the level he will be operating at on Saturday. He looks to be in great shape and Saunders has fought up and down to the level of his opponent, while the skills and style is one that Canelo Alvarez has struggled with in the past.

However, the loss to Floyd Mayweather and the controversial win over Erislandy Lara were in bouts that took place in 2013 and 2014 respectively and there is no doubting how much Canelo has improved in the time since then.

Even then you do have to think that Saunders will be difficult to tie down early in the fight and Canelo is going to have to focus on the body work to slow down his opponent. The feet are much better at cutting off the ring these days than they were in 2014 and I do think Billy Joe Saunders can sometimes look like he is tiring towards the end of a fight which is where I have a nagging feeling that Canelo will catch up with him.

The power remains at 168 pounds and Canelo looks really good on the scales too, but only three of the last eight fights have ended with a stoppage for him. A late stoppage against Sergey Kovalev springs to mind when thinking about this fight, but I think Billy Joe Saunders has the length and the heart to find a way to hear the final bell.

Beating Canelo Alvarez on the cards anywhere is a huge task though and I think the more eye-catching shots will be landed by the Mexican great. I think Billy Joe Saunders may even do enough to call for a rematch, but I think it will be a clear enough Decision for Canelo to move on towards the big fight with Caleb Plant later in the year, while the Brit can come back with his head held high.

MY PICKS: Canelo Alvarez to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Elwin Soto to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.00 William Hill (2 Units)

Souleymane Cissokho to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Frank Sanchez to Win Between 6-10 @ 4.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2021: 15-36, - 28.12 Units (99 Units Staked, - 28.40% Yield)