Liam Smith bullishly declared he will stop Saul Canelo Alvarez when he defends his WBO world light-middleweight title against the pound-for-pound star on September 17.Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) -- one of boxings biggest stars -- takes on Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) for his WBO belt at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, after promoters failed to make a world middleweight title unification fight against Gennady Golovkin instead for September.Golovkin-Canelo might be the biggest fight available in boxing and the one fight fans want more than any other, but the two superstars are fighting different opponents -- both unbeaten Britons -- a week apart in September.Kell Brook steps up two weight divisions to face WBC-IBF-WBA middleweight champion Golovkin on September 10 and like Smith is a big underdog.But Smith, one of four boxing brothers from Liverpool, dismissed the odds against him and claimed he will become the first person to stop Canelo, who is ranked No 5 in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings after reigning as WBC world middleweight and super-welterweight champion.I cant wait to put on a show and make a name for myself, said Smith. This is a fight Ive been asking for 12 months.I could have done it a different ways by fighting a lesser name and work my way up to a big fight but Im doing it right now against the biggest name in world boxing.When the fight got made people were saying hes coming down from middleweight, the size of him, stuff like that. Size wont play a factor in this fight, I guarantee you.I havent fought over there but I guarantee you the American fans will know who I am come Sept. 17.I look at Canelo and I dont need any more motivation. I dont look at the odds or papers. None of them will make me more motivated. This is the biggest fight for me.If it goes to points and Ive won the fight Im confident they will give me it. Im not going to change what I do.Im going there to stop Canelo, if I dont stop him it wont be through a lack of trying. Im not going over there for the occasion and Im not going over to give my title away.How can you say Im not at that level [of Canelo] because Ive not fought at that level yet. You cant say Im not on Canelos level, this fight will tell you whether I am or not.Smith, 27, is making a third defence of the WBO belt after stoppage wins over John Thompson, Jimmy Kilrain Kelly and Predrag Radosevic.Most consider Smith a step down in class from Alvarezs previous opponent and another Briton Amir Khan.But Canelos promoter and former multi-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya insists the Mexican boxer is not taking Smith lightly.We strongly feel this will be the event of the year not only because Canelo Alvarez is biggest star in the sport who fills arenas with 40 or 50,000, De La Hoya said.I believe Canelo hasnt even scratched the surface yet, hes only getting better.But Canelo is fighting a world champion who is dangerous, Liam Smith is not going to the U.S. to fold. He is a fighter who is serious, much bigger than Canelo and is undefeated. Team Canelo is taking this fight very serious.Canelo has a tough challenge in front of him and we dont want to think about any future fights. Come September 18 we will discuss future plans.Alvarez was also respectful of his opponent, who sparred with Khan ahead of the Bolton boxers fight with Canelo.Liam Smith is a great fighter who is very strong and very hungry, so Im going to prepare like never before and give the fans what they want to see, said Alvarez, who stopped Khan in six rounds in May.Smiths promoter Frank Warren claimed the Liverpool boxer might not be as well know as previous British boxing stars like Ricky Hatton ahead of big fights, but has a better chance of an upset win.This guy has got more chance than Ricky Hatton had against Kostya Tszyu or Joe Calzaghe against Jeff Lacy or Bernard Hopkins, Warren said.They call him the Scouse Mexican. I think what he brings to the table creates fireworks, and were going to see a huge upset.Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Adam Jones Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. http://www.cheaporiolesjerseys.com/ . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Cal Ripken Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Chris Tillman Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night.NEW YORK -- Steven Matz is tentatively scheduled to return to the New York Mets injury-ravaged rotation Friday night.The left-hander threw a bullpen Wednesday at Citi Field, and manager Terry Collins said he is confident Matz will be able to start against Philadelphia. But before committing to him, the team will wait to see how Matz feels Thursday.If he does take the ball, the rookie will likely be limited to around 50-60 pitches.He hasnt pitched in a month, so weve got to be very careful with how we approach it, Collins said.Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa would be in line to follow Matz against the Phillies. Ynoa made his first major league start Sunday versus Minnesota, allowing one run and striking out eight in 4 2/3 innings.Matz has not pitched since Aug. 14 because of tightness in his left shoulder. He initially was penciled in to return Sept. 1, but was scratched after feeling discomfort when playing catch a day after he threw off a mound.Matz had been pitching with a bone spur in his elbow before going on the disabled list last month. He is 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts this season for the Mets, tied with San Francisco and St. Louis for the two NL wild cards.In another injury update, New York starter Jacob deGrom had surgery Wednesday to reposition the ulnar nerve in his right elbow and is expected to be ready for spring training next year, the team said.Right-hander Matt Harvey also is out for the season following surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, and Zack Wheeler never made it back this year from Tommy John surgery in March 2015.WHERES WILMER?Collins indicated he is very concerned about infielder Wilmer Flores, who remained out of the lineup with a sore right wrist.Flores has not played since Sept. 10, when he was injured in a home-plate collision at Atlanta. Hes received two injections, the second one on Monday, but still was unable to swing a bat Wednesday, accoording to Collins.ddddddddddddProductive rookie T.J. Rivera started at second base again Wednesday night during a 4-3 loss to Atlanta.Flores is not expected back in time to play Thursday night against Philadelphia lefty Adam Morgan -- a major disappointment for the Mets. Flores is hitting .340 with 11 home runs in 100 at-bats vs. left-handers this season, including .393 with 25 RBI in his last 61 at-bats. His .710 slugging percentage against southpaws is the best mark in the majors among players with at least 85 at-bats.Not to mention, Flores hit a grand slam off Morgan on Aug. 26.BRUCE ON THE BENCHSlumping right fielder Jay Bruce was left out of the starting lineup for the third time in four games, one night after the three-time All-Star was pulled for a pinch hitter in a crucial situation.That move came with a left-handed reliever on the mound. This time, the left-handed-hitting Bruce was benched with rookie right-hander Ryan Weber starting for the Braves. Alejandro De Aza played center field, bumping Curtis Granderson back to right.Bruce struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. Before the game, he had little reaction to Collins decision to sit him.The results are just not there, and this is a results game, Bruce said. I still plan on being a big part of this hunt for the World Series here. This is just a blip.Acquired from Cincinnati at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, Bruce is batting only .175 with four homers and 11 RBI in 41 games with the Mets. He is hitless in his last 13 at-bats and stuck in a 3-for-39 slide. Yet his 29 home runs and 91 RBI still ranked 10th in the NL in both categories.Obviously, no one likes being booed, Bruce said. But I understand that theyre passionate. They expect a certain level of execution and performance out of me. ' ' '