Alvarez to fight Jacobs in middleweight unification clash

Canelo Alvarez will return to the ring in May for a middleweight unification showdown with Daniel Jacobs.

Alvarez will drop back down to 160lbs to defend his WBC belt against IBF holder Jacobs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Mexican superstar stopped super middleweight Rocky Fielding in three rounds in December to become a three-weight champion, extending his record to 50-1-2 (35 KOs).

“I’m happy to announce my next fight during the festive weekend of Cinco de Mayo,” said the 28-year-old Alvarez.

“I will unify my middleweight titles against Daniel Jacobs on one of the two most important dates that belong to me.

“I have no doubt that I will be victorious and that I’ll be one step away from becoming the undisputed middleweight world champion.”

Jacobs, 35-2 (29 KOs), battled back from bone cancer to win the world title in 2014 before losing his belt in a close decision to Gennady Golovkin in a unification clash in 2017.

The New Yorker, whose only other loss was to Dmitry Pirog 10 years ago, outpointed Sergiy Derevyanchenko in September to become a two-time world champion.

“This is the opportunity I have been waiting for, the opportunity to achieve greatness inside the ring,” said Jacobs.

“I have always believed I can beat Canelo, and on May 4, I will get my chance to play it out.

“It’s been nearly four years since Canelo has faced an American challenger. It’s going to be a huge event where I believe I will cement myself as the best middleweight in the division.”