While the fight would surely still do great business, interest in a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight took a major hit following the latter’s consecutive losses, one of which came by knockout.
But juxtaposed with Pacquiao’s recent setbacks has been the rise of Canelo Alvarez, who has quickly emerged as a major boxing superstar and the most compelling challenger for pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather. And unlike what happened with the potential Mayweather-Pacquiao scrap, the relevant parties will not let this one slip through their fingers.
Mayweather confirmed on Twitter that he and Alvarez will be fighting in Las Vegas on September 14.
Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions later confirmed the bout, which will be contested at a 152-pound catchweight, to media sources.
“It’s a done deal and Floyd is very excited to give the fans what they want,” Ellerbe told ESPN. “This is the fight they wanted and this is what they are getting. It’s the biggest fight in all of boxing. It’s the biggest fight Floyd can possibly make.”
Mayweather is coming off a dominant victory over Robert Guerrero; Alvarez most recently defeated Austin Trout.