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The way junior middleweight titlist Liam Beefy Smith sees things, Canelo Alvarez picked on the wrong guy.Alvarez is one of boxings most popular stars and could have picked just about anybody to fight. But rather than giving the people what they want (and what he promised) -- a showdown with unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin -- Alvarez dumped his middleweight title and decided to drop down to junior middleweight, where he once unified two titles.In doing so, Alvarez hand-picked Smith, an undefeated British fighter largely unknown and untested. But Smith is happy Alvarez called his name and was thrilled when he landed, by far, his biggest fight, even if it will take place in front of a pro-Alvarez crowd on Mexican Independence Day weekend.Smith, 28, will make his third title defense when he faces Alvarez on Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where he will aim for a gargantuan upset.Im not stupid. I know on paper Im the B-side of this fight. Canelos the big name, said Smith, who will be boxing in the United States for the first time. Its always Canelo, and its Mexican Independence Day, so I know that. But I am the champion, and just looking back on that, that is one reason why I hope theyll respect that Im champion and be fair. If I win the fight, then make sure I get the decision.Give me the respect I deserve. I am the champion, even though I am the B-side in the fight. Canelos the big name, but I am the champion going in. ... I took this fight. Im not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. Ive got a title to lose. So Ive taken this fight because its an opportunity to make a name for myself and establish myself as one of the best fighters pound-for-pound in the world.Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) is one of four fighting brothers. Brother Paul twice lost decisions to Arthur Abraham for a super middleweight title (in 2014 and 2015), Stephen dropped a decision challenging junior lightweight titlist Jose Pedraza in April and super middleweight Callum is an undefeated contender awaiting a mandatory shot at the belt held by Badou Jack. But Liam is the only to have won a world title, although his title bouts have come against pedestrian opposition.He knows he is facing a formidable opponent in Mexicos Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs), 26, who won the lineal title (albeit at 155 pounds) by decision against Miguel Cotto last November and retained it by massive sixth-round knockout of Smiths countryman Amir Khan, a welterweight moving up, in May.Canelo is a very accurate puncher and has a great deal of variety in the ring, Smith said. I got to work with [welterweight titlist and recent Golovkin victim] Kell Brook to prepare. It feels very good to be on this big stage, and its one that I have asked to be on.I am going to show everyone that I can fight at a high magnitude and hopefully Ill gain some more fans once I beat Canelo. Looking back at his last fight, I think Canelos attitude was thinking that he was going to grab the knockout sooner or later, and he wasnt willing to box. I wont let that be the case in this fight because Ive got the ability to outbox him and put him in his place. Just because the writers and the boxing critics label me as the underdog isnt my motivation. My family and their support is the only one I need. With this opportunity, Im hoping for bigger and better fights to come my way.Smith trains at a gym owned by Khan but said he did not discuss what it was like for him to fight Alvarez. I havent talked to him about the fight because what he can do well, I can do well, and what Amir failed to do in the ring, I will not fail to do, Smith said. I have my own skill set that I can excel in. Im comfortable going toe to toe with Canelo, and let that be a warning to him come Saturday.Frank Warren, the Hall of Fame British promoter, has worked with Smith since he turned pro in 2008 and has seen his share of upsets. He said Saturdays fight reminds him a bit of when big favorite Jeff Lacy traveled to England to meet Joe Calzaghe in a super middleweight title unification fight that Warren promoted.Everybody was building up Jeff Lacy to be the next big thing and [Calzaghe] destroyed him, Warren said. I mean absolutely destroyed him.Thats not say that Warren believes Smith will destroy Alvarez, but he believes he has what it takes to notch a victory.Ive always thought that [Smith] was an exceptional fighter and an exceptional British fighter. Hes won all his fights to date [other than a four-round draw in his sixth fight], Warren said. Hes on an eight-fight knockout roll, and Ive never seen him up so much for a fight. He begged me for this fight, and we made it happen between all of us, and I can assure you when he gets there, there are going to be some serious fireworks.Its going to be a real celebration for the Brits. It might be Mexican Independence Day, but its going to be the Brits are coming, and the Brits are going to come away still holding that belt. Hes so confident and all the time Ive known him, Ive never felt or doubted him or his ability. Hes one of those fighters, the bigger the occasion, the more youll get out of him.Joe Gallagher trains Smith and is one of the most respected trainers in the United Kingdom. He said Smith is well-prepared to pull the upset.Liam Smith is a world champion, and he is doing what world champions do: defending his world title against one of the best fighters in the world, Gallagher said. Liam isnt coming over here to be caught like a rabbit in the headlights. Liam Smith is a world champion and is going to take care of business on fight night.Smith is a serious threat. Liam Smith can box from the outside, hes a great counterpuncher, can fight from the inside, has great shots from the inside and has a great temperament. These are some of my favorite characteristics of Liam Smith. I think he might shock a lot of people in just how great he is come Saturday night.Smith, of course, is planning for victory.Its going to be give and take. Canelos going to have his moments. Im not saying hes not. But Im going to have my moments, Smith said. Every time I think about the fight it gets me excited. It just gets me excited. So its one that I cant wait for. Its going to be a great fight.And should Smith win, Warren has a novel idea.Well be talking afterwards about when is Liam going to be fighting Golovkin, he said. Because thats what theyre going to be talking about after this fight. Ethan Ampadu Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. 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POCATELLO, Idaho -- Keaton Studsrud threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to help North Dakota get past an Idaho State upset bid, 28-21, on Saturday.Tied at 14 at intermission, North Dakota (6-2, 5-0 Big Sky) went 78 yards on 15 plays, culminating with Brady Oliveiras 4-yard run, to take a 21-14 lead. Studsruds 17-yard touchdown pass to Josh Seibel at the start of the fourth made it a two-score game.Idaho State (2-5, 1-3) made it 28-21 with 1:23 left on Tanner Guellers 17-yard touchdown pass to Kw Williams -- his second of the day -- but North Dakota recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.ddddddddddddStudsrud completed 12 of 20 attempts for 173 yards. John Santiago had 101 yards on 18 carries and Oliveira finished with 46 yards on 16 carries.Gueller went 26 of 49 for 220 yards and three touchdowns and added 32 yards rushing for the Bengals. ' ' '