Golden Boy Promotions today announced that boxer Canelo Alvarez' fight with junior middleweight titleholder Liam Smith "will take place at AT&T Stadium" on Sept. 17, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. The fight is "during Mexican Independence Day weekend, a date important to Alvarez because it is typically a weekend with a big fight involving a Mexican star." Alvarez-Smith will "headline the third boxing card to be held at AT&T Stadium." Manny Pacquiao "headlined there twice and won both fights by lopsided decision." Golden Boy Promotions co-Founder & President Oscar De La Hoya and Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones have "been talking about bringing an Alvarez fight to Arlington for several months, although most people want to see Alvarez face unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin." Jones, who is a boxing fan, has "made no secret that he has wanted Alvarez to perform in his building." Alvarez, Smith and their teams will "conduct a two-city media tour to promote the fight." It will begin this afternoon at AT&T Stadium "followed by a news conference Wednesday at the Landmark Hotel in London" (ESPN.com, 7/18). In L.A., Lance Pugmire writes tickets priced from $40-750 go on sale at 12:00pm CT on Thursday. Golden Boy announced a portion of proceeds will "go to Dallas Police and Dallas Area Rapid Transit Officers." Alvarez "has a large following in Texas, as proven by the 40,000 who watched" his April '13 unanimous-decision victory over Austin Trout and "the 31,000 who attended" his May '15 knockout of James Kirkland at Minute Maid Park (LATIMES.com, 7/18).
BAMA BOOST: In Birmingham, Tim Steere notes attendance "was set at 11,974" for Deontay Wilder's WBC heavyweight title defense Saturday against Chris Arreola at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex' Legacy Arena. The crowd marks a "significant jump from Wilder's last fight in Birmingham, which drew around 8,500." Wilder "brought 9,347 to UAB's Bartow Arena for an earlier title defense against Eric Molina" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/18).
