It seems as though Billy Joe Saunders won't get his dream fight with Canelo on Cinco de Mayo
Promoter for four-weight world champ, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (53-1-2), has made it very clear that there is not a “favourite” in terms of his next opponent coming up in May.
Canelo vacated his WBO light-heavyweight belt that he won from Sergey Kovalev in November, with a view to head back down a division to super-middleweight where there are lots of challenging and lucrative fights available.
It was believed by many that WBO super-middleweight champion, Billy Joe Saunders (29-0), would be the one to land the lottery ticket on the Mexican national holiday on May 2nd. However, Canelo’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy promotions, refuted that any single opponent is the frontrunner for that potential date.
Speaking with SecondsOut boxing reporter “Radio Raheem” in a video interview, De La Hoya plainly stated that all options are still being discussed:
"You know, there are so many options and I would hate to throw a name out there…I’ll tell you one thing: Saunders is not the frontrunner, that’s for sure.
“I have no idea who threw that name out there, but once we nail a name down, I’ll have an announcement shortly.”
Two-weight world champion Billy Joe Saunders called out Canelo immediately after his last fight with WBO #10 Marcelo Esteban Coceres (28-0-1), which ended in an 11th round knockoutfor the unbeaten Brit.
The 30-year-old Hatfield man floored Argentina's Coceres three times in the penultimate round of his maiden WBO world super-middleweight title defence in what was his maiden appearance as a Matchroom fighter.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was adamant in September last year that his newest recruit would get the fight with Canelo on Cinco de Mayo, which now looks increasingly unlikely.
De La Hoya maintained that he will be meeting with the Mexican superstar soon to discuss the options available.
The pound-for-pound superstar has previously hinted at fightng in Japan. The current WBA world middleweight champion, Ryan Murata (16-2), comes from Tokyo and could make for a big-money fight that would potentially earn Canelo a new fanbase in the East.
Alvarez is arguably the biggest financial “meal ticket” in boxing and there are numerous fighters at either middleweight, super-middleweight or even back up at light-heavyweight that would love for the opportunity to make the biggest money of their career to face him.
There is aso speculation that he could meet unified super-middleweight champ, Callum Smith (27-0), but the rumours are very weak and the Liverpudlian is currently eyeing an all-British showdown with Saunders instead, with Anfield proposed as the venue.
A drop back down to middleweight could see an all-Mexican showdwown with the exciting Jaime Munguia (35-0), who only just defeated Irishman Spike O’Sullivan by 11th round TKO two weeks ago n his middleweight debut.
Then there's the unfinished business with IBF #1 challenger Sergei Derevyanchenko (13-2), who caused Canelo to be stripped of his IBF belt last year. That particular belt is now in the hands of former foe Gennadiy Golovkin (40-1-1), with the trilogy still to be completed.
It's a wait and see situation, but the amount of big names on the table should mean that fight fans are in for a treat whoever the 29-year-old picks.