Canelo Alvarez’s fight against Billy Joe Saunders drew an announced crowd of 73,126 to the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, almost two years ago.

The 66,065 tickets sold to that show, which featured Alvarez’s technical knockout of Saunders, set an American indoor record for boxing and generated slightly more than $9 million in gate revenue in May 2021. Mostly Alvarez fans packed that stadium and created a memorable atmosphere, but promoter Eddie Hearn expects an Alvarez-crazed crowd to produce an even more electric environment Saturday night in Zapopan, Mexico.

A capacity crowd of more than 50,000 is expected to fill Akron Stadium for Alvarez’s first fight in his home country in more than 11 years.

Alvarez will defend his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles against British southpaw John Ryder in his first fight on Mexican soil since Alvarez defeated Kermit Cintron by fifth-round technical knockout in November 2011. Alvarez’s victory over Cintron took place at Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexico, a legendary bullring in Mexico City.

The 32-year-old Alvarez has since become boxing’s biggest star in the United States and won world titles in four weight classes. His fight with Ryder will be held just outside of his hometown of Guadalajara.

“I think, and I’ve said it before, I think you may see one of the best atmospheres you’ve ever seen in boxing,” Hearn said during an interview that was posted to Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel Tuesday. “I mean, Dallas Cowboys, 74,000, Billy Joe Saunders, that’s gonna be tough to break. But this is different. This is home. This is his people. And the atmosphere they will create on Saturday night will be one of the most special you’ve ever seen in boxing.”

Alvarez, who turned pro when he was just 15 years old, had his first 22 professional fights in Mexico, many in Guadalajara. He fought in the United States for the first time in October 2008, when he out-pointed Larry Mosley in a 10-rounder at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.

The undisputed super middleweight champion has long stated a desire to return to Mexico to box before his people.

“It will be super special on Saturday night,” Hearn said. “It will be an occasion that, you know, this country will never forget.”

Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) is heavily favored, 16-1 by most sportsbooks, to retain his four titles against London’s Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs), who is the mandatory challenger for his WBO championship.

Their 12-round fight will be the main event of a DAZN Pay-Per-View show in the U.S. DAZN subscribers can purchase this five-fight show for $59.99 if it is bought through the streaming service’s website, whereas it will cost $79.99 for non-subscribers through cable and satellite providers.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.