Canelo, the undisputed super middleweight champion, has moved from his usual spot at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to this bigger venue. It's a change that shows how much interest there is in seeing him fight, especially during Mexico's patriotic month.
While Canelo and Crawford prepare, another boxer has his eye on the champion. Hamzah Sheeraz, a 26-year-old British fighter with a record of 21 wins, no losses, and one draw, wants his shot at Canelo. But first, he's got to win his next fight.
On July 12, Sheeraz will step into the ring at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. He'll face Edgar Berlanga, a 28-year-old from Brooklyn with 23 wins and just one loss. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has said if Sheeraz wins, he could get a chance to fight Canelo.
Sheeraz doesn't seem too worried about Berlanga. When asked to rate his opponent, he said:
"I'd give him a 7 [out of 10]."
Sheeraz wants to show that Berlanga isn't as good as people think. But Berlanga isn't lacking confidence. He's been walking around like he's sure he'll win easily. He thinks Sheeraz is a good boxer, but he's treating the fight like it's just a formality.
Berlanga knows what it's like to face Canelo. He lost to him by unanimous decision not long ago. But even though he lost, that fight made Berlanga more popular.
Now, both Sheeraz and Berlanga want their shot at the champ. They know a fight with Canelo means big money and even bigger fame. But first, they've got to get through each other.