Via Sean Jones: Eddie Hearn said Canelo Alvarez is in talks for a third game in December against WBC cruiser class champion Ilunga Makabu or mandatory WBA 168-lb John Ryder.
Earlier on Friday, Matchroom Boxing revealed that Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) signed a two-way deal with them and DAZN to face the WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on May 7 on pay-per-view. It was a tough fight for Canelo and he could very well lose if he gets overwhelmed by the Russian boxer.
The second opponent for Canelo’s two-match deal is Gennadiy Golovkin on September 17. For the Golovkin matchup to take place, he must beat WBA 160-lb champion Ryota Murata in April, and Canelo will need it. beat Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) in May.
PPV prices for the fight between Canelo and Bivol are as follows:
- $59.99 for existing DAZN subscribers
- $79.99 for new subscribers
If 34-year-old Makabu is selected, it will be a successor move for Canelo to try to claim his 5th world title to bolster his credentials superficially.
In theory, Canelo-Makabu would be a bad match, but not much worse than the mediocre 168 lb champions Canelo has revered for the past four years.
Over the past four years, Canelo has beaten scores of British boxers who are completely unknown to the average boxing fan in the US, and not even famous in their own countries.
Makabu & Ryder picks for Canelo’s December fight
Eddie Hearn said: “I am really pleased to announce a two-fight deal with the king of boxing, Canelo Alvarez, Eddy Reynoso, Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. iFL TV on Friday.
Hearn said: “We are back together and ready to play on May 7 against Dmitry Bivol. “Of course, we know Gennadiy Golovkin in September, if everyone wins their upcoming match.
“The third fight is being discussed with Canelo and Eddy Reynoso in December. So I’m absolutely delighted. Our man became the king of boxing, number 1 pound-for-pound. Canelo and Matchroom are back together.
“Two wars have been confirmed and signed and a third one has been considered with Eddy Reynoso in December. But apparently, all eyes are on the next Dmitry Bivol, the world lightweight champion.
“That will happen on May 7. There will be a press conference taking place in San Diego on Wednesday to confirm the location and all the other information surrounding it.
“Obviously Gennadiy Golovkin in September, the trio for the undisputed super middleweight world championship. Canelo has to deal with the business against Dmitry Bivol. Golovkin had to take care of Murata. We’ve got two big battles, and I can’t wait.
“Third War” [for Canelo in 2022], we’re talking about Makabu and John Ryder will be mandatory. It will also be a fight in London.
John Ryder recently defeated Daniel Jacobs by split 12 on February 12 in a 168-lb WBA title elimination match. That disqualification was for the ‘regular’ WBA title that David Morrell Jr. are holding. It’s not clear why Canelo would want to waste time fighting Ryder since he doesn’t need to.
Canelo & Golovkin must win the next skirmishes
“Clearly, the fight we all want is the undisputed trilogy against Gennady Golovkin,” Hearn said.
“Both of you have to take care of the business. I’m sure they will and we’ll have another big fight in September. Everyone wants to sign the king of boxing,” Hearn said when asked the sticking point for negotiations with Canelo. What’s for a two-way deal.
“Obviously, people have taken an approach; everyone has a chance. He wants to go through that. I have always felt that our relationship with Canelo Alvarez was the best of all that he had or is having.
“It doesn’t mean he’ll go with your choice if it doesn’t make sense for his career. Apparently, he and Eddy Reynoso believe that the route we outlined is the one they prefer.
“I believe they want to work with us. It was an amazing collaboration. This will be our fourth and fifth battles with Canelo Alvarez, and hopefully, he will be with us for the rest of his career.
“We will do a great job with him. “We’re bringing USA fight fans, fight fans around the world, an incredible night of boxing on May 7 on DAZN, again in September and hopefully hopefully in December.
“For me personally, it is the greatest honor to have someone like Canelo Alvarez and Eddy Reynoso believe in me and choose me as the man to advance their careers.
“It was a blessing and an honor. We will give them and give an incredible one year fight with Canelo Alvarez. Hearn said:
Announcement Canelo vs. Bivol this Wednesday
“Financially, both are big offers, much larger than what was initially reported,” Hearn said. “Really, there is a point to being undisputed at 175, which is the triple fight with Golovkin, which is the biggest fight in boxing.
“So yeah, we chose, and I couldn’t be happier. We will announce it on Wednesday. We are talking to various locations at the moment.
“There will be an official announcement, ticket, location, everything. But May 7th will be the date. Canelo Alvarez vs Dmitry Bivol for the WBA lightweight world championship.
“I would keep it for the company, but I’m not at all interested, to be honest with you,” Hearn said of Canelo’s two-fight signings with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN.
“We represent AJ, who everyone argues is the best heavyweight in the world. That Scrap, the biggest star in British boxing and #1 or #2 in world boxing in Anthony Joshua. We now represent the king of boxing, Canelo Alvarez.
“So obviously, for me the business, for Matchroom, for DAZN, it’s a big day for us, but we don’t take it for granted. We will do an unbelievable job delivering amazing events and amazing battles.
“As a fan of fighting, to be with and to work with the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Eddy Reynoso is unbelievable. Well, it’s a big day for all of us,” Hearn said.
We already know that Canelo vs. Bivol will likely be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It would be a breath of fresh air if Canelo chose to host the fight in New York instead of Las Vegas.
