By Luke Furman
For several years, WBO light heavyweight champion Eleider Alvarez was seeking activity and recognition.
Several months ago, he arrived on the scene with a vicious knockout of heavily favored Sergey Kovalev. The two will collide in a rematch on February 2 against Sergey Kovalev in Fresno, Texas.
ESPN will televise the fight, as part of their exclusive content deal with Top Rank.
On Thursday, it was announced that Alvarez had signed a co-promotional contract with Top Rank, who will work side by side with the boxer's longtime promoter Yvon Michel of GYM.
According to Radio Canada, the agreement is a two year deal, which guarantees Alvarez a seven-figure purse for as many as seven fights.
Alvarez will also receive a percentage of any pay-per-view event that he headlines and ticketing revenues for all events.
The financial terms would of course be revised if Alvarez loses his title. The agreement also provides for Alvarez to fight at least one time a year in Quebec.
"Despite all this money, I have the same motivation. Honestly, I did not follow the negotiations. I was not aware of anything. It was in the hands of my manager. All I know is that I'm expected in Texas on February 2nd," Alvarez said to the outlet.
The contract signed by all parties last Thursday and will come into effect with the presentation of the February rematch.
"We have never signed a contract of this magnitude. I have never seen our American partners be so determined to give us the necessary conditions so that we make an association. I am convinced that this agreement will allow us to bring Eleider to the rank of American mega-stars," said Michel.
At the same time, GYM and Alvarez extended their collaboration until 2022, respecting the three-year limit for the duration of the contracts between a promoter and a boxer.
Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.