Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders are set to smash the record for the biggest indoor attendance for a boxing event in America as they prepare to meet in a super middleweight unification battle at the AT&T Stadium (which has a retractable roof) in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday live worldwide on DAZN and distributed by TV Azteca in Mexico and Latin America.
Alvarez and Saunders already broke the pre-sale records for their clash and with over 65,000 tickets now sold with limited remaining, their battle is set to overtake the rematch between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks at the Superdome in New Orleans in 1978 that drew 63,352 fans.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has been the driving force behind some of the biggest crowds in British boxing history, starting with Carl Froch and George Groves at Wembley Stadium in London, and then Heavyweight ruler Anthony Joshua filling the same stadium against Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin and also the Principality Stadium in Cardiff against Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam – and Hearn is thrilled to be putting boxing under the best of spotlights on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
“It’s one of the biggest events I’ve ever been involved in and this morning, we officially broke the record for the biggest indoor crowd in American boxing history,” said Hearn.
“We will have 70,000 people in the AT&T Stadium on Saturday night – I am absolutely buzzing for this, I think this could be the best atmosphere we’ve ever seen.
“The numbers for this fight are tracking great, and I think that this is just great for everyone – the biggest live event since the pandemic struck, and boxing has done that. It just shows that when you get it right, we have a monstrous sport on our hands.
“Boxing is being showcased on Saturday. We can be as proud as peacocks on the night as everyone around the world will be watching, they will see the atmosphere and say ‘wow, this is boxing!’ People have to tune in to watch this atmosphere and product and say, ‘this is the place to be’. And everyone watching on Saturday will be in awe of it – the event, the fight, the ring walks, everything.
“I’m excited for Billy to be able to go out there and show what he’s said he’s always been able to do, and I am excited for Saul because the atmosphere for him is going to be incredible – so may the best man win.”
Limited tickets remain on sale at seatgeek.com.
I have no problem with natural selection unleashing its power on unvaccinated Texans.
Ive had covid 19 last year and can honestly say Ive had worse flu’s. I did have a side effect with lung capacity and couldnt sprint properly for ages. Mind you at late 40’s im not as fast as I used to be. Alkaline foods and Wim Hof breathing technique for good recovery.
Anyone who believes this pandemic nonsense needs an IQ test not a Covid test.
Huh? I got sicker than s*** from it. Vaccines made it even worse.
Open a book sometime.
That’s a lot of people
Allot of people are going to be disappointed, Saunders talks a good fight but when in the ring he will run, run, run.
Great to see Texas letting people live and fill up a boxing event. Cant even get a haircut in Toronto.
Considering the venue, home cookies? eminds me of the hocky allstar game recently out there with half of the civilized world attending in an outdoor arena in february and expecting texas to be below 32. mmm something rotten in Qibeck.
Past few fights that were not Canelo fights had very limited seatings available because of the coronavirus. Yet since Canelo is the big draw 70,000 seats plus are allowed eh? I’m sure maybe 7-8 thousand people get tested positive with coronavirus after this event?
I will think positively about this gathering, and I hope there are no negative consequences. This may set the public gathering stage for Canelo vs. Plant during early 2022.
I also say this because I would love to see this type of gathering for a HUGE fight between Canelo and Benavidez (during late 2022 or early 2023). Stay in shape and stay disciplined, Benavidez!!
Spoiler Alert Canelo wins. When he is going to fight Charlo or Benavidez? If these are the fights to see let see them.
Well said Hawn and Dan , let’s see those top names fight Canelo and I do think a lot of people might be disappointed with the outcome of the fight, heck we should all be disappointed just looking at the prelims scheduled for this big fight. Our attention has been drawing to this fight like a big horse race where we often have fun to cheer and bet for the long shot and more often than not, the favorite wins and our money is vanished. It should still be worth watching at least it won’t be another TRILLER circus fight, we still have a couple more weeks before we see those fights.
Charlo is a 160 champ. Canelo is 168 champ…a mandatory gets a guaranteed minimum percentage, optionals don’t. So Charlo would not accept the offer. He has to be a mandatory or another 168 champ to get a certain Amount. Likely he would refuse any offer and want 50/50 which he doesn’t deserve at this point. Fighters say they want a fight, but don’t accept the offers.
Waiting for the Carl Froch ego to comment…
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT ,CANELO WILL WIN THIS FIGHT.SHOULD BE A GOOD FIGHT ,BUT SAUNDERS EVEN THOUGH HE IS A GREAT FIGHTER,IS REALLY NO MATCH FOR THE ONE AND ONLY ALVEREZ.GO CANELO GO
Canelo should win this, dont be surprised if there is an upset here.
That’s a great sign. Means we’ve turned the corner and will soon be out of this mess.