Saturday 25 June 2016 21:10, UK
Liam Smith will defend his WBO super-welterweight belt against Mexican star Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on September 17.
Smith (23-0-1-KO13) won the belt against John Thompson in October last year and has since defended it against Jimmy Kilrain Kelly and most recently by beating Predrag Radosevic last month.
But the United States date against Alvarez will mark a huge step up in class for 'Beefy' in his first fight outside the United Kingdom.
Smith said: "I am delighted to get the opportunity to defend my world title against the biggest name in world boxing and to headline in the USA, which is a dream I have had since I started in the sport of boxing.
"This fight allows me to make my name in the USA and show just how good I am and this is the big stage that will enable me to do that.
"I am confident of winning this fight and returning to the great city of Liverpool with my belt still around my waist."
Alvarez (47-1-1-KO30) previously held the WBA and WBC belts at super-welterweight before suffering the only loss of his career against the legendary Floyd Mayweather Jr in September 2013.
He stepped up to middleweight to claim the vacant WBC title by beating Miguel Cotto last November and defended that title with a brutal sixth-round knockout of Amir Khan in May.
Canelo added: "Smith is a tremendous fighter with real knockout power.
"I have no doubt that this fight will be give and take, which will fill the expectations of the fans, and I will work with all the enthusiasm as I always do to get the upper hand on September 17."
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