FEATHERWEIGHT prospect Joseph Diaz and middleweight contender Jason Quigley will both feature on the Canelo Alvarez vs Liam Smith undercard at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on September 10.
It was originally believed that heavyweight Luis Ortiz would fight Alexander Ustinov on the bill, though that fight now looks to be scuppered. WBO world middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders is also mooted to box on the card, though that has not yet been confirmed.
Unbeaten Diaz, highly ranked by several governing bodies, is excited to be given such a big stage as he hunts down a world title shot.
“This is a big step up and great opportunity for me to showcase my skills and what I’m truly about. I know that 126 lbs. is a stacked division but I want to showcase to everyone September 17 with all the 100,000 people that are going to be at the AT&T Stadium that I can be the next world champion at 126 lbs,” he said.
“I would like to fight any champion at my weight class. Hopefully I’ll become mandatory for the WBC so I can fight Gary Russell Jr. because I know he is the champion at WBC. But if not, if I become mandatory for any other world titles, I’m willing to fight anybody: Vasyl Lomachenko, Leo Santa Cruz, Carl Frampton, and Abner Mares. I’m willing to showcase that I can get in the ring with the best and beat the best.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and will go out there to do what I do best.”
California-based Irishman Quigley boxed on the undercard of Canelo’s emphatic knockout win over Amir Khan in May.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be on such an amazing card. To be fighting under Canelo again is going to be amazing also. To be fighting in Texas and at AT&T Stadium is a massive platform to show what I’ve got. I’m going to take full advantage of it and will be ready to shine on Sept. 17.”
