Sources: Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders agree to terms for May unification fight

Alvarez first has to handle business vs. Yildirim on Feb. 27

Unified super middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s pound-for-pound king and the sport’s biggest star, and fellow 168-pound titleholder Billy Joe Saunders have agreed to terms for a three-belt unification fight in May, according to multiple sources.

The fight is not yet signed and Alvarez must first retain his belts against mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim on Feb. 27 (DAZN) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, but if he does Alvarez-Saunders would take place either May 1 or May 8, sources from both camps told Fight Freaks Unite.

One source said the preferred date is May 8 but both dates are the Saturday’s closest to Cinco de Mayo, which this year falls on the Wednesday between them.

There is no site yet although the camps sited Miami and locations in Texas as possible, two places where spectators are permitted with limited capacity during the coronavirus pandemic. If Nevada allows limited spectators by the spring, Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, would also be a strong consideration, per the sources.

An Alvarez-Saunders match comes as very little surprise. They were due to fight last May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas but the fight, which was a done deal and on the verge of being announced in mid-March, ultimately never happened. There was no formal announcement and the bout was canceled because the coronavirus shut down the sports world.

After settling a breach of contract lawsuit with Golden Boy Promotions last fall and becoming a free agent, Alvarez signed a one-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and easily outpointed Callum Smith on Dec. 19 to take Smith’s belt and win a vacant one.

Soon after beating Smith, Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs), 30, of Mexico, signed a two-fight deal with Hearn. That agreement contemplated that the second fight would be against Saunders, who is also promoted by Hearn, according to one of the sources. Alvarez’s goal is to unify the four major super middleweight world titles.

Alvarez’s two-fight deal kicks off with the Feb. 27 bout against heavy underdog Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs), 29, of Turkey and then it would be on to Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs), 31, a southpaw from England.

Alvarez hopes to fight at least four times in a nine-month span – the December win over Smith, the fights with Yildirim and Saunders and then another fight in September. Alvarez has also said he would consider also fighting again in December, which would mean five fights in 12 months, which is unheard of for an elite fighter in this era.

Saunders, a former middleweight titlist before vacating to move up in weight, won a vacant super middleweight belt by lopsided decision over Shefat Isufi in May 2019 and has made two defenses, most recently a near-shutout of Martin Murray on Dec. 4 in London.

The Athletic first reported Alvarez-Saunders agreeing to terms.

Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing