With pound-for-pound No.1 Canelo Alvarez further cementing his superstar status with an eighth-round retirement win over rival champion Billy Joe Saunders at the weekend, promoter Eddie Hearn has said the Mexican maestro could bring his talents to the UK in the future as part of a world tour.
Matchroom Boxing’s two-fight deal with Canelo expired after the win over Saunders in front of 73,126 fans in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, but given its success, it would be a surprise if that promotional relationship did not continue.
After taking the unbeaten record of the crafty Saunders, Canelo now owns the WBO, WBC and WBA Super crowns at 168lbs with only the IBF belt in the possession of Caleb Plant remaining before ‘undisputed’ status is earned at super-middleweight.
Canelo-Plant seems destined for Las Vegas in September, but afterwards the four-weight champion may be looking further afield, according to Hearn, embarking on a world tour as Coronavirus restrictions ease.
“You saw one of the biggest stars in global boxing and I think his plan now is to go and become undisputed,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “That’s a fight with Caleb Plant, which I think will happen in Las Vegas in September.
“Then from there, he wants to go and box around the world. He would love to fight in the UK. I think his popularity here is through the roof.
“He’s beaten seven UK fighters over the years, so he’d love to fight here. He said he’d love to fight in the Middle East, the Far East. Of course, in Mexico again in a huge show, so I think you’re going to see him box around the world.
“He told me that he wants to fight for seven more years, so you’re going to be seeing a lot of Canelo Alvarez.”