SAN ANTONIO – Two of Canelo Alvarez’s potential opponents for his likely fight early in May have vastly different styles than Callum Smith.
Alvarez nevertheless expressed confidence during a post-fight press conference early Sunday morning regarding possible bouts against left-handed Billy Joe Saunders and right-handed Caleb Plant, both terrific technical fighters. England’s Saunders, the WBO super middleweight champion, and the United States’ Plant, the IBF 168-pound champ, each would provide Alvarez a chance to add one of the two remaining super middleweight titles he needs to become the undisputed champion in that division.
“I adapt to all styles,” Alvarez said through a translator after a dominant 12-round victory over Smith at Alamodome. “I adapted for Callum Smith this time around, and I’ll prepare for any style. I will always prepare for any style and I’ll be ready. I’ll always be ready and be the winner.”
The 28-year-old Plant (20-0, 12 KOs), a native of Ashland City, Tennessee, presumably would be available to battle Alvarez on May 8 if Plant beats former IBF champ Caleb Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs, 1 NC) on January 30 and leaves the ring relatively healthy.
The 31-year-old Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs) doesn’t have a fight scheduled.
Saunders and Alvarez, who owns the WBA and WBC titles, reached an agreement to fight seven months ago. The Alvarez-Saunders fight, which would’ve taken place May 2 in Las Vegas, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 30-year-old Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) could return to the ring quickly after ending a 13-month layoff by defeating England’s Smith (27-1, 19 KOs) by unanimous decision. The four-division champion and promoter Eddie Hearn told BoxingScene.com before Alvarez beat Smith that he is willing to making a mandatory defense of the WBC belt he won Saturday against Avni Yildirim (21-2, 12 KOs) sometime in February in Mexico.
Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing doesn’t have a promotional agreement with Alvarez beyond Saturday night. Alvarez, who separated from longtime partner Golden Boy Promotions before he faced Smith, expressed a willingness during the press conference to continue working with Hearn and DAZN beyond Saturday night.
Finally fighting Gennadiy Golovkin in a long-awaited third bout also is a possibility for Alvarez’s appearance in May.
“Look, what I want is whatever my team wants, what Eddy wants,” Alvarez said, referring to trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso. “He’s the one that tells me, so you know, we’re trying to make history here, be the second Latino that [fully] unifies the titles like this.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
