By Manouk Akopyan 

A deal is in place for Canelo Alvarez to fight Sergey Kovalev contingent on the Russian winning next week against Anthony Yarde, Kovalev manager Egis Klimas told BoxingScene.com on Friday.

Klimas said Alvarez is waiting for Kovalev to win his bout on Aug. 24 so both sides can “put the signature on the contract.” The fight could take place as early as November or December.

“Canelo has stated he doesn’t want to fight anybody else. He wants to fight Kovalev,” said Klimas. “He’s waiting right now on this fight result. The fight against Yarde is a big motivation for Sergey, too. Winning this fight against Yarde will lead him to Alvarez and it’s almost like putting the signature on the contract to Alvarez.”

Klimas said Golden Boy Promotions is waiting for the fight to conclude to finalize the deal. 

“I don’t expect that anything will be done before the following week [after Kovalev-Yarde]," Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s promoter and head of Main Event Boxing told Boxing Scene. "First, Sergey has to make it through with a win and unscathed. Fingers crossed.” 

When asked if the financials are currently in place to make the fight a reality, Klimas said, “Yes. I believe so. They were dragging initially, like everybody else, and playing games. The money they offered in the beginning was crazy. Then they came with financials like, ‘Okay, now we can sit down and talk.’”

On Wednesday, Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz told Boxing Scene they will have an announcement on Alvarez's next opponent "very soon." One scenario was them waiting on the Kovalev-Yarde fight to unfold.

"That's one fight Canelo likes, but there are a couple of other options we're working on right now,” said Diaz.

Klimas said considering that Canelo is a “pretty big guy,” the move to light heavyweight for the potential fight against Kovalev should not be much of an issue.

“If you put him on the scale right now, I don’t think he’s less than 175. I’m more than sure he’s eating healthy and will be much stronger at 175 than he was at 160 or 168.” 

If Kovalev, (33-3-1, 28 KOs) overlooks the undefeated Brit Yarde (18-0, 17 KOs), it could cost him a career high payday and a chance to secure the signature win that escaped him twice when he lost to Andre Ward.

Recently, Kovalev left Los Angeles for Russia and has been training in his hometown of Chelyabinsk. 

Klimas said they are expecting a big turnout for the WBO light heavyweight champion’s fight.

“Sergey is ready for Yarde. He’s spent a lot of time in Oxnard. Calif. preparing for the fight,” said Klimas. “From everything that’s been communicated, he’s in good shape and is in a good mood. Our preparation was very good.” 

Manouk Akopyan has been a member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011 and has written for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Guardian and Philadelphia Inquirer. He can reached on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk.akopyan@gmail.com.