Trainer Eddy Reynoso talks potential 2020 opponents for Canelo Alvarez
The last time boxing fans saw Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) display his talents in the ring was on November 2, 2019. Then, he jumped up to the light heavyweight division and scored a spectacular 11th round knockout over Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 19 KOs) to win the WBO World 175-pound strap.
Following his win over Kovalev,fans, pundits and media observers question what’s the next move on the boxing chessboard from the 29-year-old from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport has been turned upside down. Every fighter’s schedules has been affected, including Alvarez.
Prior to boxing being put on a standstill and fights being suspended all over the world, strong indications were that Alvarez’s next opponent would be WBO Super Middleweight Billy Joe Saunders on May 2. Now, things are up in the air and there’s no confirmed opponent as of yet.
POTENTIAL FIGHTS ON THE TABLE
During a May 14 interview with Mexico’s Box Azteca, Eddy Reynoso (trainer of Alvarez) provided an update.
“We realistically want two fights this year. We couldn’t fight in May, so we are looking at September and December. We’re talking about [possible opponents] like Billy Joe Saunders. There’s also (IBF titleholder) Caleb Plant and the WBC world titleholder at 168 pounds (David Benavidez). There are several (possibilities).”
Asked about the prospect of a third fight against IBF World Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs), Reynoso left the door open for a trilogy to happen.
“Golovkin could be the fight for December. His people have already said that he doesn’t want to fight Canelo until after the (Szeremeta) fight.”
The 38-year-old Golovkin’s next fight will be a defense of the IBF 160-pound strap against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta (21-0, 5 KOs).
COVID-19 has made everything topsy-turvy, including the forecast for Alvarez, the sport’s current cash cow. The original schedule was for Canelo to fight in May and for Golovkin to fight in June. Then, assuming both were victorious, we would have seen Alvarez – Golovkin III in September of this year. Now that plan is out the window.
So as the sport adjusts, so does Team Alvarez. Now, the boxing public waits to see what’s next on the ledger of boxing’s biggest money-maker.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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