By Lem Satterfield

WBO light heavyweight champion Eleider Alvarez said his multi-year, co-promotional deal with Top Rank and previous promoter Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) makes unifications “possible” if he wins his February 2 return bout with Sergey Kovalev at The Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ training facility just outside Dallas.

According to an earlier report by Luke Furman of BoxingScene.com citing Radio Canada, the two-year agreement guarantees Alvarez (24-0, 12 KOs) a seven-figure purse for as many as seven fights, a percentage of any pay-per-view event that he headlines, ticketing revenues for all events, and also provides for Alvarez to fight at least one time a year in Quebec. The financial terms would be revised if Alvarez loses his title, according to the report.

“The incentive with this deal is really the unifications, I think, now, they’re going to be possible, and I’m ready to embrace the opportunities to do that and to prove that I’m a great champion,” said Alvarez, 34, in an interview with BoxingScene.com on Thursday.

“But right now, I’m really focused on Sergey Kovalev, because if I don’t win against Kovalev than there are no unification fights. All of the hard work has paid off, and I’m really proud of how everything has developed to allow my career to continue to grow. But first, I have to take care of Kovalev."

The 34-year-old Alvarez meets the 35-year-old Kovalev (32-3-1, 28 KOs) at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on ESPN plus (12 a.m. ET/ 9 p.m. PT) in a rematch of  “The Storm’s” three-knockdown, seventh-round stoppage in August.

Michel said Alvarez still is being advised by Al Haymon, long considered a rival to Top Rank and whose Premier Boxing Champions’ stable has three- and four-year deals with Showtime and FOX. 

“Al Haymon is a friend, partner and I consulted with Al before moving forward [with the deal for Alvarez,]” said Michel of Alvarez, who trailed on all three cards before flooring Kovalev three times in the final round.

“Al Haymon wants the best for his fighter, and he’s an advisor for me, and an advisor for Eleider. We looked at the offer we had, and we realized it was the best offer, and he [Haymon] gave us his blessing.”

Top Rank promotes newly-crowned defeat Oleksander Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 KOs), who dethroned long-reigning southpaw Adonis Stevenson (29-2, 24 KOs) by 11th-round knockout on December 1.

There is also Top Rank affiliated 168-pound southpaw Gilberto Ramirez (39-0, 25 KOs), a 6-foot-2 Mexican who retained his WBO crown by majority decision over Jesse Hart (25-2, 21 KOs) in of Philadelphia in a December 14 rematch of Ramirez’s narrow unanimous decision victory in September 2017. Ramirez indicated that he will rise in weight to 175 pounds.

Michel also did not rule out a potential unification fight with WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol (14-0, 11 KOs). A unification bout versus IBF king Artur Beterbiev (13-0, 13 KOs) is unlikely, however, because Marc Ramsey trains Beterbiev and Alvarez.

“Against anybody, we’ll be the A-side, and we’ll see how this will unfold. But the most important fight for Alvarez’s career is to prove on February 2 that he’s not he was not a one-hit wonder when he knocked out Kovalev, and I believe that he’ll be even better than that,” said Michel.

“Alvarez has  grown a lot as champion in confidence and experience, and I believe that will be seen on February 2. After that, we’ll see how we will deal with things, moving forward. But I will say that right now, that Eleider is the best and most accomplished light heavyweight in the world.”

“Storm” Alvarez’s resume includes a majority decision over Isaac Chilemba in 2015, a fifth-round stoppage of left-handed former titleholder Lucian Bute in February 2017, and a majority decision over former champion Jean Pascal in June 2017.

“Of the other champion, nobody has beaten fighters with the same experience, reputation or caliber that Alvarez has. He’s beaten Isaac Chilemba, Lucian Bute, Jean Pascal, and, now, Sergey Kovalev to become the best light heavyweight in the world," said Michel.

"I was in regular conversations with Al [regarding Alvarez’s career.] But it was only after he beat Jean Pascal that Alvarez was ready. That’s when we knew beat Alvarez was ready to fight for the title, and, now, we have the reward, because, at the moment, Alvarez is the best light heavyweight in the world.”

Alvarez displayed mobility, a rapier jab and granite chin, double-fisted power, and overcame a sixth-round cut beneath his left eye caused a head butt during “The Krusher’s” most devastating setback since an eighth-round stoppage in June 2017 to Andre Ward, who had won a decision over Kovalev in 2016.

"I demonstrated that not only am I a good boxer, but I also showed some power that people didn't realized that I have," said Alvarez. "But I still have a lot of work to do to ensure that I will remain the best light heavyweight in the world. The goal is a knockout, but I'm going to win, KO or not. You're going to see an Eleider Alvarez who is even better than the last time on February 2."