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. 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PITTSBURGH -- James Conner has big plans for this weekend, and it has nothing to do with saying goodbye.Thanksgiving marks the 1-year anniversary of the cancer diagnosis that threatened the Pittsburgh running backs career, one that kickstarted his remarkable comeback and turned Conner into an inspirational figure for others in the same fight.Conner -- fully healthy and showing extended flashes of the raw brilliance that made him the ACC Player of the Year in 2014 -- will celebrate the milestone with a massive family meal sometime after the Panthers wrap up the regular season against Syracuse on Saturday at Heinz Field.Its going to be a good holiday this year, Conner said Tuesday.Whether its his last as a college player, Conner isnt saying. Any decision on whether to return for a redshirt senior season next fall wont come until after Pitts bowl game. Conner stressed he wants to make the smartest choice. He also doesnt want to be a distraction to the 19 teammates who will run through tunnel at home for the final time, most of whom arrived at Pitt alongside Conner in 2013.Im just going to sit back and enjoy their special moment, Conner said.Conner anticipated being in this situation a year ago. Then he tore the MCL in his right knee in the 2015 season opener against Youngstown State. A hastily arranged press conference the first week of December -- which most expected to be Conner announcing he was heading to the NFL -- instead turned into the disclosure that he was battling Hodgkin Lymphoma.Months of chemotherapy followed. Conner put his challenge out there for all to see, joining his teammates for workouts and doing outreach to other cancer patients looking for someone to lean on. Yes, its not something he ever imagined hed be doing around his 21st birthday. It hardly seems to bother him.Its all positive energy, he said. If you see a young kid in a sad situation, you feel for him and me personally because I can relate to it.And overcome it, too. After a sluggish start this fall in which he seemed intent on trying to turn every touch into something spectacular instead of just doing what hes always done -- namely, keeping his legs and arms churning with a ferocity few in the country can match -- Conner has relaxed in recent weeks.dddddddddddd Hes gone over 100 yards in three of Pitts last four games, and his two 1-yard scoring runs in last weeks 56-14 thrashing of Duke made him the all-time leading touchdown maker (53) in Atlantic Coast Conference history.Heady territory for a kid who attended a football camp at Pitt as a defensive end prospect before getting recruited as a running back. His 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame seems tailor-made for the NFL. Yet his winding journey has also altered his perspective. Hes no longer in such a hurry to get to the next thing.You cant look too far ahead, Conner said. I dont even look a week ahead because, especially me, you dont know whats going to pop up.Asked how he would benefit from another year in college, Conner smiled.Probably some more records, he said. I dont know if I came back, just add to the legacy. I hope they retire No. 24 one day. Thats a goal of mine.One thats probably already secure either way. While offensive coordinator Matt Canada hopes to have Conner around next fall, he understands if Conner moves on. One look at the way Conner is playing, including a stiff-arm during a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter two weeks ago against Clemson that helped Pitt rally for a 43-42 upset, he certainly looks pro-ready.Why should people want to tackle James? Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. Theres not many people that want to tackle James Conner.Its why even with a running back draft class that could include LSUs Leonard Fournette, Georgias Nick Chubb and Florida States Dalvin Cook, Conner likes his chances if he opts to move on to the next phase of his life sooner rather than later.I like to think Im pretty talented, too, he said. I just focus on me and do what I can and hope I get the opportunity.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '