Canelo Alvarez says he could fight for another seven years.
The undisputed super-middleweight champion moves up to light-heavyweight for his next fight in two weeks against Dmitry Bivol. A win for Canelo would give him the WBA title and make him a two-time world champion at 175lbs.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Canelo was asked about his career and how much longer he planned to carry on boxing.
“I hope a long time because I’ll miss boxing when I’m retired but right now, I think six years more, seven, five. I don’t know.”
Widely regarded as the pound-for-pound number one fighter the 31-year-old agrees that taking on the unbeaten Bivol on May 7 is a risky move. When asked if it would be the hardest fight of his career, he answered: “Could be.”
“He’s a really good boxer and a solid champion in 175. It’s a dangerous fight but I like it. I love that kind of challenge, but I believe in my abilities. It’s going to be a really good fight.”
Canelo’s year has been mapped out working alongside Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. Bivol on May 7 will be followed by going back to super-middleweight to fight Gennadiy Golovkin for a third time in September. After that the four-weight world champion hopes to fight in the UK with names like John Ryder, Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards being considered.
A further weight jump has not been ruled out by Canelo who had at one stage been set to challenge Ilunga Makabu for his WBC cruiserweight title. However, following his run at super-middleweight which saw him crowned undisputed champion after beating Caleb Plant last November the idea of winning all four titles at light-heavyweight is of great appeal to him.
“I like the idea to be undisputed at 175. That’s what I like but you never know. I have this fight and then we’ll see but I like that idea.
“I feel I need to accomplish everything to be in the books of history of boxing. That’s why I’m here and I love what I do.”
Canelo is regarded as one of the finest fighters of his generation and certainly one of the best to come from Mexico, but he was asked what he thought he would have to do to be considered the greatest of all-time.
“Things like this (fighting Bivol),” he said.
“When you see in the past the best fighter go up and down in weight class and beat all the champions. I try to do my best for boxing for me, for my legacy and keep doing that. Fight the best, fight the fights the people want and that’s it.”