The Boar Sport Weekend Preview: 21-22 November

James Roberts

Football- El Classico: Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Saturday, 5 pm, Sky Sports 5

El Classico. Two words, nine letters, unlimited drama. Quite simply the biggest club football match in the world returns to our screens this weekend in the first instalment of the fixture this season. Barcelona grabbed the headlines- and the trophies last season, largely thanks to the the brilliance of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Yet, amidst all of this Real Madrid came out on top in both league meetings in 2014-15 to secure the bragging rights. For Barca to take all three points they will need to be at their best, so it is convenient that this Saturday should see Messi return to action. The Argentine wizard has been out injured for the past two months, and while he is unlikely to start he could still make a cameo appearance. Real too have some big name comebacks on the horizon themselves. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are expected to start alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, meaning the full quota of star names will be involved. There is unmissable sport, and then there’s El Classico.

Expect more wild challenges and intensity than you can shake a pigs head at.

Shingi Mararike

Boxing- WBC Middleweight Championship: Canelo Alvarez vs Miguel Cotto

Sunday 1 am, BoxNation (Ring Walks at an expected time of 4 am)

Floyd Mayweather is gone. Manny Pacquiao’s storied career is also drawing to a close. Awful news for fight fans. The two men whose fistic skills and legendary exploits have kept Boxing in the the sporting spotlight for the better part of the last decade can no longer be called upon to smash box office records. Whilst the duo ride off into the sunset enter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto: The two most recognisable names in the fight game aside from the aforementioned pair. This weekend, the pair will dual for the Middleweight Championship of the world in a highly anticipated clash.

Flame haired Mexican sensation Canelo Alvarez

Alvarez at 25 is boxing’s youngest superstar. Hailing from Mexico, his often used nickname translates into English as “Cinnamon” an allusion to his flaming red hair. Not to be scoffed at, this ginger Mexican packs a punch. His heavy handed yet intelligent brand of boxing has seen him amass an almost flawless professional record. His only loss coming at the hands of Floyd Mayweather two years ago. Across the ring this weekend he’ll be confronted with his biggest challenge since he was dismantled by Floyd in Vegas: Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto. The brooding 35 year is enjoying a career renaissance of sorts under the tutelage of the fabled trainer Freddie Roach. He has stepped up into the Middleweight division with a new lease of life, wreaking havoc behind relentless pressure and some devastating left hooks. Two big hitting, big stars collide at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on the early hours of Sunday morning.  Drag yourself out of bed with the aid of numerous alarm clocks or force yourself to stay awake. Either way, you don’t want to miss this. A super fight in every sense of the word.