Canelo Alvarez snubs rival Billy Joe Saunders after heated row over ring size

Canelo Alvarez refused to shake hands with Billy Joe Saunders ahead of their unification clash this weekend.

The build-up to the meeting of the two super-middleweight world champions, has been dominated by a row over the size of the ring.

Alvarez, who holds two belts, finally relented and gave in to Saunders' demands after the Brit threatened to fly home.

The rivals will now fight in a 22-foot ring instead of the 18-foot structure which was originally in place at the AT&T stadium.

But when Saunders offered his hand at Thursday's press conference, Alvarez declined and looked away. The pair did later bump fists following a low-key media appearance.

And earlier, Alvarez admitted he has been waiting to punish Saunders for years of insults aimed in his direction.

“This fight is different because he has four years talking s*** about me,” he said.

“Before the first Golovkin fight he is there talking s*** about me; hat's why it is different for me.

"My mind is calm. Saturday night it is going to be different, he is in a different level fight now. He's going to see what is going to happen.”

Saunders, however, is confident he can extend his unbeaten record with the biggest win of his 12-year career.

“I brush opinions off because I know what goes through my head and my mind, and what I have done in my career is through the will and want to win, and the day I lose that, I won’t put a pair of gloves on again," he said.

“I can only control what I am in control of and that myself, not what is outside the ring. It’s going to be a great fight it’s one I’ve wanted for years and it’s finally landed. There’s a lot at stake for both of us.

“I’ve been the underdog before, I’ve been the away fighter before, it’s not a new position, but I’m just in with a better opponent this time. "

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