Canelo Alvarez in Talks With Bob Arum to Fight Two Big Names at Light Heavyweight

A few weeks ago, the WBC sanctioned a fight between Canelo and WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu. This is an important fight for Alvarez as he is chasing history and wants to become a five-division world champion. However, recent developments suggest Canelo has his eyes set elsewhere.

Bob Arum revealed that Canelo Alvarez is in talks with him to make a return to the light-heavyweight division to fight the champions at 175.

 

In an interview with Sky Sports, Arum spoke about Canelo’s interest in fighting Artur Beterbiev or Joe Smith Jr. “Yes. I know that he would. Eddy Reynoso is a great trainer and is very close to Canelo. I know Canelo pretty well, since he was a young man.”

“He has expressed interest to me about fighting Beterbiev or Joe Smith Jr. I would look forward to May or September, the two dates that Canelo likes to fight, that he would fight one of those light-heavyweights.” 

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The Top Rank Promoter, who represents Beterbiev, feels he can make this fight happen since

Canelo has fought in the light-heavyweight division before. Alvarez took on the WBO light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and beat him with an 11th round knockout.

Bob Arum reveals they may have to cancel Canelo Alvarez vs Ilunga Makabu

Bob Arum thinks the Canelo Alvarez vs Ilunga Makabu fight may be off. As Makabu, who holds the WBC cruiserweight title, is scheduled to make his mandatory title defense against Thabiso Mchunu, Arum feels they may have to call off the Alvarez vs Makabu fight. However, the status regarding that is unclear as the WBC gave their go-ahead for Alvarez to fight the current champion.

“I think they will have to abandon it,” Arum said.

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Although Canelo has fought at light-heavyweight before, he has never fought anyone as strong as the unified champion Artur Beterbiev. The Russian is a knockout machine. He boasts of a clean professional boxing record and a 100% knockout ratio.

If Beterbiev beats Marcus Browne this Saturday, he could face Canelo next. Do you see this fight happening? Or will Alvarez remain focused on Makabu and fight no one else until he gets his shot at the cruiserweight belt?