Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez conquered the 168-pound division in less than one year, unifying the weight class with world title wins against Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant. Sandwiched in between Smith and Saunders for Alvarez was a mandatory title defense against Avni Yildirim.
The four-division champion Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) has made it clear that he wants to climb yet another division and next fight as a cruiserweight, specifically against WBC champion Ilunga Makabu.
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has promoted three of Alvarez’s last four fights. Alvarez is a promotional and network free agent.
If the English executive had his say in the situation, he would prefer for Alvarez to continue his crusade as a light heavyweight.
“It’s not just a case of they’re going to work with me if there’s a better opportunity. But it’s my job to provide the best opportunities. We know we’re the best promotional company out there for him, but we have to show him the right path, and hopefully, we’ll do that in early January,” Hearn told IFL.
“I personally think Canelo should look to become undisputed at 175. And I think he can do it. To be undisputed in two weight classes will be incredible, and I think that’s a move that will be very exciting.
“So whether you’re Dmitry Bivol or whether you’re Joe Smith and whether you’re Artur Beterbiev, you hope that Canelo Alvarez will give you that call to give you the opportunity to be in a mega-fight.”
Alvarez has only fought once as a light heavyweight. He knocked out Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and soon after vacated the WBO belt he won in the fight.
Via Matchroom, Hearn can procure fights for Alvarez with the likes of WBO champion Dmitry Bivol and the up-and-coming Joshua Buatsi at 175, and WBO cruiserweight titlist Lawrence Okolie.
It’s not lost on Hearn that Alvarez could fight anyone he chooses since he is boxing’s biggest breadwinner and pound-for-pound king. That includes the current crop of 168-pounders who are not champions, or 160-pound fighters who want to move up to fight the Mexican star at a weight he chooses.
Hearn even took Alvarez’s conquests one step – and weight class – further.
“I think Canelo would fight [heavyweight champion] Oleksandr Usyk, but I think it would have to be an agreeable weight. I can’t see Usyk coming back down to cruiserweight.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com
