After an eventful fight week, the super-middleweight unification between rival world champions Canelo Alvarez and Billy Joe Saunders is poised to break the US indoor attendance for a boxing match.
The 168lbs showdown at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has currently shifted over 65,000 tickets and is on course to handily eclipse the 63,352 fans who witnessed the incomparable Muhammad Ali dethrone Leon Spinks in their world heavyweight title rematch at the New Orleans Superdome in 1978.
It’s another piece of history for promoter Eddie Hearn who has previously staged mammoth outdoor events in the UK including Carl Froch vs George Groves II and Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
“It’s one of the biggest events I’ve ever been involved in and [Thursday] 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.”
Main image: Matchroom Boxing USA.