Canelo Alvarez has made a habit out of dispatching British fighters, with eight men from UK shores having tried and failed to topple the Mexican icon.
John Ryder was the latest of these – and potentially the one who put in the best showing – when he valiantly fought his way to a unanimous decision defeat to Alvarez in Guadalajara on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
An unlikely potential addition to this seemingly cursed list has emerged over the past few days, as newly crowned cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith’s trainer sensationally kept the door open to fight against Alvarez when interviewed by Boxing News.
McGuigan added that he’d expect a trip to Vegas for the fight, and that finding suitable sparring for Alvarez could prove tricky.
“Badou Jack is waiting for Canelo, and if he’s waiting for Canelo, Chris Billam Smith should get the Canelo fight! I’m not even joking.”
“We won’t go to Guadalajara, we’ll probably go to Vegas.”
“Canelo’s short though, how can you get sparring for him if you’re CBS.”
Billam-Smith edged out former stablemate Okolie at a packed out Vitality Stadium on Saturday night, with three knockdowns and two point deductions going towards ‘The Gentleman’ scoring a majority decision victory to become WBO cruiserweight champion of the world.
As enticing as Billam-Smith is no doubt finding all this talk of a money spinning clash with Canelo, a contractual rematch clause was in place for Okolie and it is expected to be activated.
Canelo looks set to rematch old foe Dmitriy Bivol later this year, after the Russian handed him his first defeat in almost a decade last May.
Already a four-weight world champion, the Mexican had previously discussed a fight with former cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu. That belt now lies with Badou Jack, but if Canelo hears the Billam-Smith call out he might just fancy trying for five-time.