Boxing fans were expecting the much-awaited bout between lineal champion Canelo Alvarez and unified titleholder Gennady Golovkin to happen this year. That's why many of them were surprised when it was announced that Alvarez will face off instead with middleweight titleholder Liam Smith on Sept. 17.

In a statement, the former two-division world champion revealed that his next fight with be against Smith, whom he described as "a tremendous fighter with real knockout power, and the WBO junior middleweight world title owner."

"I have no doubt that this fight will be give and take, which will fill the expectations of the fans, and I will work with all the enthusiasm as I always do to get the upper hand on September 17," Alvarez said, as quoted by ESPN.

The Mexican boxer will have to drop the extra pound to face off with the 27-year-old Smith, who is set to defend his title for the third time. Alvarez has recently been playing at his preferred weight of 155 pounds, including when he won the middleweight title from Miguel Cotto in November last year.

With the fight just less than two months away, Alvarez's camp already said that they are taking Smith, who remains unbeaten at present, seriously.

Alvarez's trainer, Eddie Reynoso, said in a Boxing Scene report that the Mexican boxer is not taking his next fight lightly, and wants to defeat Smith by knockout.

"At this level, Alvarez has to prove his power and must go find the knockout because we want to improve in every fight," Reynoso said.

"We know there is no such thing as an easy opponent and Smith is a very strong fighter because to become champion a lot of things are needed and he's managed to do so, which makes him an opponent that we must respect and take seriously," he added.