By Luke Furman
Eleider Alvarez is shaking his head at the World Boxing Council recently stating that a deal is close for his mandatory fight with WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson.
There was talk of their contest heading to a date in January, but WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman says he was informed by promoter Yvon Michel of GYM, that a deal is very close for a Showtime televised date of December 16th.
Alvarez has been the mandatory challenger, for nearly two years, to Stevenson's title. For one reason or another, the fight has yet to happen.
Stevenson (29-1, 24 KOs) and Alvarez (23-0, 11 KOs), who are both advised by Al Haymon, are waiting to get their fight details.
Alvarez is not placing his trust in anything until he sees, with his own eyes, a fight contract with Stevenson' signature on it. Until a such a document is delivered to him, Alvarez is ready for anything.
He says Stevenson could very well vacate his title, because the WBC has ordered him to face Alvarez with no interim-bouts. Money will not prevent the fight from taking place. According to Alvarez, he is not motivated by money in this situation - he is motivated by fighting for the WBC world title.
"When he signs a contract, I'll believe it," said Alvarez to TVA Sports. "Financially, all boxers would think about that because it's the future of our family and our children, but at the moment I do not think about that, I'm only thinking about fighting Stevenson.
"Things can change in a second so I do not know what will happen. Stevenson may vacate his belt. Maybe I will accept another fight [for the vacant belt] and we will negotiate something."
According to Michel, Stevenson has no intention of vacating his belt and plans to defend the title.
Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.