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Can he do it on a Saturday night in Riyadh? Canelo Alvarez ready to break new ground in the Middle East
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has grown accustomed to making himself at home in the bright lights of Las Vegas, with six of his last seven bouts in Sin City.
Five those were held at the T-Mobile Arena and another at the MGM Grand, both in the exquisitely-named Paradise district of Vegas.
The one fight that was not staged in Vegas from Alvarez’s last seven bouts took place in his homeland of Mexico.
Remarkably perhaps, for one of the greatest boxers of his generation, Alvarez has yet to fight outside North America in his 66 professional outings.
That will change on Saturday night, though, when the legendary Mexican makes his debut in Saudi Arabia to headline the latest Riyadh Season event.
Alvarez heads to the Saudi capital to take on William Scull and break new ground by fighting in the Middle East.
Victory over the Cuban will see Alvarez become undisputed ruler at 168lbs for a second time.
Sporting a pair of shades, the 34-year-old looked relaxed when he arrived in Riyadh earlier this week.
Despite it being unchartered territory, Alvarez told Fight Hub TV: “I feel great and I’m enjoying everything – I feel at home here.
“Yes, this is something new for me, but I’m very grateful because it is one of my dreams to fight in another country.
“It’s important to me because I think that, by coming to Saudi Arabia, I can open the door for other fighters from Mexico.
“That makes me feel proud to represent my country – I take the Mexico flag everywhere with me – and I’m here to make history.”
Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
With all eyes on Alvarez, there will be no hiding place for him at the ANB Arena (Kingdom Arena) in Riyadh on Saturday night.
Not that there is any suggestion he is looking, of course.
Few would bet against him adding another glorious chapter into an extraordinary career which has spanned almost 20 years.
Alvarez has made it a point to fight during Cinco de Mayo weekend in May and Mexican Independence Day weekend in September as much as possible over the course of his glorious career.
And usually when he has done so, Alvarez has shown a penchant for generating highlights.
(Ring Magazine)Now it is time for him to add some highlights reels from the plush ANB Arena, where he will take on Scull.
Certainly it is a fitting amphitheatre for a man of Alvarez’s stellar talents, having been graced by big names such as Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua in recent times.
But it will also provide a new challenge.
Can the Mexican do it on a Saturday night in Saudi Arabia?
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Only a fool would bet against Alvarez as he gears up for a fight knowing that victory should see him return to Riyadh to face Terence Crawford in a super-fight in September.
The man affectionately known as Canelo is a showman, a master of his craft, and he will surely relish the opportunity to show Saudi boxing fans what he is capable of.
Alvarez has been seen in some of Riyadh’s most exclusive venues this week as he acclimatises to Saudi life in readiness for a global boxing showpiece.
The hype surrounding Alvarez is building and should reach a crescendo at the ANB Arena.
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