Canelo Alvarez will look to become two-time 178lb champion when he challenges Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas this weekend.
The Mexican star will make his return for the first time since becoming undisputed champion at 168lbs with victory over Caleb Plant last September. Alvarez has signed a two-fight deal with promoter Eddie Hearn with a victory against Bivol setting up a potential third shot at Gennady Golovkin in September.
Alvarez will return to light-heavyweight for the first time in two years after previously stepping up to defeat Sergey Kovalev with a brutal stoppage. Bivol is set to provide a significant challenge to the sport's pound-for-pound king, having won all of his nineteen professional fights.
The Russian star fought on domestic shores last year defeating Craig Richards to defend his title before defeating Umar Salamov on home turf.
Here is all you need to know ahead of the light-heavyweight title fight...
What time does Alvarez v Bivol start in the UK?
Ring walks for the Las Vegas main event between Alvarez and Bivol are expected to take place at approximately 5am on Sunday May 8 in the UK.
The fight card will begin at around 1:00am in the UK with the main event set to start at around 5:15am.
How to watch via TV and live stream
The event will be shown live on DAZN, with the main broadcast starting at 12:30am. A subscription to DAZN costs viewers £7.99 a month and you can purchase one here.
Subscribers in the US and Canada will be able to purchase the event on DAZN PPV for an additional fee of $59.99. You can also watch DAZN on multiple devices including laptop, smart TV and through the mobile app.
Full fight card
Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol – WBA (Super) light heavyweight title
Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang
Montana Love vs Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela
Shakhram Giyasov vs Christian Gomez
Joselito Velazquez vs Jose Soto
Alexis Espino vs Aaron Silva
Marc Castro vs Pedro Vicente Scharbaai
Who will win - Canelo Alvarez or Dmitry Bivol? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below
Odds
Alvarez 1/4
Bivol 4/1
Draw 20/1
Quotes corner
Alvarez: “Thank you to Dmitry Bivol for the opportunity to fight for your world championship, thank you so much. I’m glad to be back with Eddie Hearn and working with him, with DAZN, I’m really excited for this year.
“I don’t care, I like challenges, it makes me feel alive – challenges for me in everything in my life. I like a good challenge and now I have a very good fighter in front of me and I’m excited for this fight.
"Bivol is a really tough fighter and it’s going to be a really good fight for Cinco de Mayo weekend with my people in Las Vegas – Mexican weekend. I’m really excited and I’m going to prepare really well because this fight is going to be really hard.”
Bivol: “I believe in my skills and when I come to the ring I believe in my victory. I’m looking forward to May 7, thank you. Me and my team wanted this fight and I’m glad this fight will be in the United States and one of the Mecca of boxing.
“This is very important for me especially because I’m fighting one of the best if not the best in the world right now, I want people to be able to see me and my skills, this is a big fight that can give me the ability to achieve my other goals and go on if I win this fight.”
