I went to speak to Callum Smith in recent weeks. I can tell you even his eyes impressed me as they were so zoned in and focused.

Everything about him screamed belief.

"A win means more than I want, to be honest with you," Smith told me.

"It probably makes me a star in the boxing world. I do want star status and people to say 'what a win that was'. I enjoy that. I don't enjoy the fame side of it. I think when you chase money or fame, things come unstuck."

You can watch the clip above and read more here.

George Groves
Former super-middleweight world champion George Groves on BBC Radio 5 Live

The chance to fight the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world... it's a gift for Smith. He could have chosen anyone to fight. It's a huge opportunity

BBC Radio 5 Live

The BBC Radio 5 Live commentary has now kicked in.

You can access it at the top of this live page.

Go on... turn it up and wake the neighbours up.

The backdrop tonight is the Alamodome in Texas.

It looks like normal times to some degree as there are around 12,000 in the darkened arena.

Sure, look around and you'd see tens of thousands of seats that aren't allowed to be filled. But right now it looks far more normal to the eye than many events have in recent times.

Trainer Joe Gallagher will be in Callum Smith's corner tonight.

There's a lot of stress on a trainer's shoulders on nights like this.

So what sort of things go through his mind...

Callum Smith is skipping in his changing room and looks as relaxed as a man fast asleep after a Christmas dinner.

Canelo is striding up and down his changing room. A few moments ago he went through a big stretching session.

I could do with one of those. I'll make do with a coffee.

Are you guys pumped?

We're on #bbcboxing...

Image source, Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez stopped Liam Smith in 2016.

Now it's time for Liam's little brother to seek some revenge.

What advice did big brother have for little brother?

Watch and find out....

I can tell you Callum Smith is gloved up and ready. He's been doing some stretching using resistance bands in his changing room.

His brother Liam was sent into Canelo's changing room to watch the Mexican's hands being wrapped.

Speaking of Liam, we will hear more from him next.

Steve Bunce
Boxing pundit on BBC Radio 5 Live

We've seen some terrific fights this year. The reason I feel this one of the biggest boxing casualties of Covid-19 is that this could have been outdoors in Texas, 90,000 people - that's the kind of pull Canelo has - against Callum Smith, who is taller and unbeaten.

The intrigue here is multiplied and multiplied. When you face Canelo you are looking for a weak link. You better have a special microscope because it's not easy to see.

Mike Costello
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

There are unknown factors on both sides. How much more is there to come from Callum Smith?

For Canelo. He's 30. For half of his life he has been a professional boxer. How much of Canelo is left? He's been out of the ring a year. Has that allowed him to refresh?

So welcome one and all. I hope you bounced out of bed when the alarm went. If you stayed up... you're the kind of teak-tough fighter we love. If you're reading while in bed then your adaptability has our respect too.

In this live page you can read about the rounds as they go and you can also click play at the top of the page and listen to live commentary from BBC Radio 5 Live. That will kick in at around 04:00 GMT.

You'll get commentator Mike Costello, analyst Steve Bunce and pundit George Groves breaking down the action.

It may be early but what a time to be alive.

Image source, Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

So something has to give.

Callum Smith has belief and the WBA world super-middleweight title.

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has big-fight experience in abundance, body shots that could chop down a forest and a chin that has repelled stiff blows time and again.

When you fight Canelo you fight more than a boxer. He has reached that lofty place few fighters ever get to, bringing with him the kind of aura that beats men before the bell even sounds.

Smith - the champion - has it all to do. My word what a night (or morning) it will be if he does so.

Image source, Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Here we have the pound-for-pound number one fighter in boxing - Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez - taking on a man who is an unbeaten world champion in Callum Smith.

Smith believes he can win. And he doesn't believe in some kind of passive, throwaway way, he truly feels he has the beating of anyone at 168lbs, even a man who hasn't felt the pain of defeat in seven years.

Others have faced Alvarez and spoken of their chances with a weakness in their voice. Deep down they knew that what was coming their way was something very, very different.

What is there to say?

Quite simply.... what a fight....

Image source, Ed Mulholland/Matchroom