Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed his plan for current undisputed super-middleweight champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Hearn has also clarified the weight that he expects Canelo to rematch Dmitry Bivol at, amidst rumours of a clash at either super-middleweight or light-heavyweight.
The Mexican had a difficult 2022, losing his first fight in almost eight years when he was outpointed by Bivol at light-heavyweight in May.
Alvarez followed up his defeat with a win against long-time rival, Gennady Golovkin, revealing afterwards that an injury had been hampering his recent performances.
Since his victory over Canelo, Bivol has threatened to move down to the super-middleweight division to challenge for Alvarez’s undisputed crown.
In an interview with iFL TV, Eddie Hearn revealed that he expects Canelo to make a comeback in May, most likely around Cinco De Mayo, against John Ryder, before rematching Bivol and putting his four 168lb belts on the line.
“Canelo Alvarez, in an ideal world for us, will return in May. I think it is disrespectful to call it a comeback fight, but it is a comeback fight from his injury, and I believe that he will fight his mandatory challenger, which is John Ryder, the interim world champion.
That could take place in America, probably not the Alexandra Palace, but could be U.K., could be Middle East, we are looking at various options.”
“Then, I am going to put my neck on the line, and say that Canelo Alvarez will fight Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed championship at 168lb.
There is a lot of work to be done, but Dmitry Bivol is up for the challenge. Dmitry Bivol is about legacy and he has a chance, if he can beat Canelo Alvarez, to then fight [Artur] Beterbiev in his next fight, for the undisputed at 175lb.”
Canelo has publicly stated that he would not defend his belts against Bivol, insisting that a rematch should instead happen at light-heavyweight now that he is back to full fitness.
With the undisputed light-heavyweight title fight between Bivol and Artur Beterbiev looking less and less likely for the immediate future, Bivol’s best bet may be the rematch if the pair can come to an agreement on weight and whose belts will be on the line.