Saturday 17 September 2016 22:59, UK
Saul Alvarez is the huge favourite as he takes on Britain's Liam Smith out in Dallas in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Only Floyd Mayweather has beaten 'Canelo', but on the back of Kell Brook's big step up, can Smith go one better and win?
Well, our Panel of current fighters and trainers, former world champions, and former Alvarez foes, tell us who they think is going to win...
It is hard to make a case for anyone fighting beating Canelo, other than Mayweather. It is annoying that Gennady Golovkin hasn't had a go yet and we know this is going to be a really, really tough ask for Liam.
If he can catch him early on with one of his power punches that is the best chance, but it is hard to go against Canelo. It could be a late finish and Liam might even take him all the way, but I have to stick with Canelo.
I'd like to see Liam Smith go the distance but I am not sure he will. People say Alvarez doesn't fight for three minutes but he doesn't waste a single punch and he just wears people down, so for Liam to get through that, will be a great performance in itself.
If Liam hears the last bell it will definitely be a points win for Alvarez but if I am brutally honest, I can see Alvarez doing what he does best, break him down and get him out of there in the second half.
The problem is Liam has never faced anyone remotely like Canelo so he's in deep water but I do think he will put on a really, really good show.
Looking from the outside I'm doubtful Liam will pull it off but he's got as good a chances as anyone. I just don't see Canelo getting him out of there and Liam will do himself proud and will come out with smelling of roses if he wins, lose or draw. He is a great fighter and is definitely at world level.
I am a big fan of Liam Smith. I think he is very, very underrated. He tucks up so well that I think he will cause Canelo lots of problems and frustrate him at times, but I also think Canelo is a special talent.
If I was pushed I would go for Canelo on points. It's out in Texas and it might as well be in Mexico so that is going to be hard for Liam to take it over 12 rounds. But he does look like he's enjoying it and having fun and a happy fighter is a good fighter.
I saw Liam at the Rotunda before he went out there and the only advice I could give him was when you're going into fights like this, give absolutely everything you've got, leave nothing in the ring. And I know Liam and he will.
If that cut he picked up in sparring with Brook stays closed then I think it's going to the cards, a split decision either way and Liam knows he's getting no favours. If that cut stays closed he might not beat him, but he will push Canelo every single step of the way.
Liam has to box really smart and stick to a rigid game plan. I think he'll have patches of success but I think Canelo to have his nose just in front all along. I don't think he'll stop Smith because Liam is a tough kid and Alvarez will have to come through some rough patches himself.
I think both guys are tough enough to counteract each other's power and the fight will go the distance. I think it will be a points win for Canelo and probably bigger on the scorecards than it should be due to the crowd reaction swaying the judges. I think Smith will give a great account of himself but just come up short.
Team Smith are very confident Liam can do this. It is a huge step up but you can't make the step until you actually try and make the step and he has disposed of everyone he's fought so far.
Liam Smith needs to go in there and do what Liam Smith does. I don't think either of them will stop the other so we are looking at points but I can see Liam coming on really strong in the second half. We know it will be pro-Canelo out there but I think Liam has the attributes to take this.
The two are likely to meet in the middle and prove they are top dog and I think that is going to be Alvarez. It's not an impossible ask, but it's a really tough ask for Liam Smith.
We have seen Khan and Kell Brook take big, big steps up and Liam is doing the same, but he is a tough kid, so it is hard one to call. I am going for Alvarez like everyone else and it could be a stoppage in the middle rounds, but it could easily go to points.
