It’s a question professional boxers get asked by lots of fans:
Can you punch me to see how it really feels?
Boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is no different. And he has, in fact, obliged with those requests in the past, just like one Ryan Garcia. But it appears he’s getting that question asked a little too often now, and he’s punching back, literally.
In the lead-up to his showdown with Terence “Bud” Crawford, Alvarez was asked by Bleacher Report how often people ask him to punch them.
“Oh, a lot of people,” he says. “I don’t know why.”
It’s a tough ask, considering Alvarez is the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world. What’s more, Alvarez has also won a world title in the light heavyweight division.
It seems the requests are going to keep coming, and now Alvarez has a plan.
“I tell my team, ‘Next time they ask, I’m going to hit them with all my power,'” Alvarez vows. “Because sometimes I’m trying to be nice. Somebody asks for a punch, I’m gonna hit them really hard.”
Be careful what you ask for.
When is Canelo’s next fight?
In a fight billed as “The Fight of the Century,” Canelo and Crawford will throw it down on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Dana White is helping promote the fight he says is a match that comes “once in a lifetime.”
Alvarez will defend his 168-pound championship belt against Crawford, who is climbing two weight classes in what is easily the biggest challenge of his career.
Related: The Origin Behind Mike Tyson’s Infamous ‘I Want to Eat His Children’ Interview Revealed
Is this a pay-per-view fight?
Shockingly, no!
The mega fight is streaming live to all Netflix subscribers. The news drew resounding applause.
Lou DiBella, a Hall of Fame boxing promoter, said no pay-per-view “is a huge opportunity and showcase for #boxing.” He added, “It’s going to create proper momentum for the new Saudi/TKO promotion. Well done by Dana and all; re-securing Netflix was key. This will be one of the most watched fights EVER.”
Who else is fighting?
The festivities kick off on Thursday, Sept. 11, when The Ring‘s inaugural “Underdog Series” begins at 8 p.m. at Fountainebleau Las Vegas’ BleauLive Theater.
Streaming on DAZN, the series will feature rising contenders, prospects, and occasionally underexposed champions in designed “50-50 fights.” The inaugural main event features WBO flyweight champion Anthony Olascuaga (9-1, 6 KOs) against No. 1 contender Juan Carlos Camacho (19-1, 8 KOs).
On Saturday, Sept. 13, a preliminary boxing card will stream live on Netflix’s Tudum.
The full Canelo-Crawford fight card on Saturday night also features Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) against Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-0, 15 KOs), current WBC interim world super middleweight belt holder Christian Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) against Lester Martinez (19-0, 16 KOs), and Mohammed Alakel (4-0) against John Ornelas (5-2-1).
