This week, Ireland’s Jason Quigley emerged as a surprise contender to meet Canelo Alvarez on September 14, but Callum Smith remains very much in the running and the Mexican star “wants” that fight, according to the WBA Super 168lbs champion’s manager and trainer Joe Gallagher.
Gallagher believes Smith is Canelo’s preferred option, but accepts that reduced financial terms will ultimately decide who is the Mexican’s next opponent with fight fans still excluded from venues due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
“Callum Smith’s name is still in the frame and we’ll just have to wait and see,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “I understand there’s an amount of money. I understand there’s no tickets, I understand there’s no fanbase. I understand there’s no money to be made from the promotion.
“For a promoter it’s very hard, so I do understand. For this fight, because of the circumstances, Canelo will go for the cheaper option.
“Canelo is training hard, he wants to fight in September. I believe he wants to fight Callum Smith,” added Gallagher. “There’s negotiations going on with Golden Boy [Promotions, Canelo’s representatives] and whoever else.
“Callum Smith has thrown his name in the hat and he’s ready to go. From what I’m hearing, Canelo wants Callum. If it doesn’t happen, we don’t know, maybe it isn’t going to generate the money that the promoters would like to generate.
“There’s no denying that Canelo would fight anyone. I do think it’s more the logistics side of it and more what makes money, if they can make money, in this current climate.”