By Jake Donovan
Former unified super welterweight titlist Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez will be returning to HBO following a brief stint with Showtime, Golden Boy Promotions' press office has confirmed Tuesday morning.
A press conference is being planned for Tuesday afternoon at Golden Boy Promotions headquarters in Los Angeles, where the official annoucement will come of Alvarez signing a long-term agreement with the cable giant.
The return to HBO comes following a five-fight stint with Showtime, beginning with his knockout win over Josesito Lopez in Sept. '12. The move was part of a mass defection by the Golden Boy Promotions stable while still being run by Richard Schaefer, who has since stepped down as CEO.
Oscar de la Hoya reclaimed full control of his company beginning with the forced resignation of Schaefer, with major changes having since followed.
Included among his long-term vision was a promise to work with all promoters, and repair his relationship with HBO, under whom he was developed as the sport's leading blockbuster attraction during his Hall of Fame career.
Neither move sat well with Schaefer, who grew tired of attempting to negotiate with rival promoter Bob Arum over the years. Plans were in place for Golden Boy to slowly defect to Showtime following the end of the company's output deal with HBO.
Ironically, the deal ended with Alvarez in the main event, a 6th round stoppage of Kermit Cintron in Nov. '11. The bout served as a split-site doubleheader that also featured Adrien Broner in a 130 lb. title win in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.
HBO and Golden Boy still remained in business following the output deal, though the relationship quickly deteriorated. Alvarez had fought eight times on HBO and its Pay-Per-View arm, the last coming in May '12 in a 12-round points win over Shane Mosley in the chief support to Floyd Mayweather's win over Miguel Cotto.
The card also marked the final HBO-related appearance for Mayweather, who—following a brief jail stint—resurfaced with Showtime in a deal announced last February. Mayweather has fought four times on Showtime PPV, including a win over Alvarez last September in what resulted in the most lucrative event in boxing history. Their fight drew more than $20 million at the live gate and $150 million in PPV revenue, both serving as box-office records.
The event served as the centerpiece of a banner year enjoyed by Golden Boy Promotions and Showtime, but the relationship is slowly but surely beginning to unravel.
Alvarez since fought twice, both coming this year in pay-per-view headliners. His return to HBO will come in a network appearance, interrupting previously announced plans of three PPV fights to serve as his 2014 campaign.
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