By Rene Umanzor
World Boxing Council junior middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (41-0-1, 30KOs) confirms that he accepted an undercard position on the May 4th card, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which features Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the main event. He admits the situation is very difficult because he doesn't want to be fighting in an undercard position - but he is willing to do whatever it takes to land Mayweather in September.
"For me it is very difficult to be the co-feature. In fact, I did not want to do it, but I understood that you have to be flexible in order to fight Mayweather, and that is the only reason I agreed to do it. I don't need to be co-feature to Floyd Mayweather, but we must do our part [to make a fight in September]," Canelo said.
The Mexican boxer believes he will face WBA "regular" champion Austin Trout on the May date and he is waiting to get the official confirmation from Golden Boy Promotions.
"Austin Trout is the only opponent [being considering], no one else is on the list or anything like that, and it's almost certainly going to be against him. I'm just waiting to confirm that we have signed against the two [Mayweather and Trout], and I'll be ready," said Canelo.
Eddy Reynoso, Saul Alvarez's manager, said the negotiations are ongoing but the May fight depends on the second half of the deal - a September fight with Mayweather.
"Floyd will fight on May 4 and we will too. If we fight on that date, it is because we signed the fight against Mayweather in September," Reynoso said.
Rene Umanzor covers boxing in Mexico for The Record.
