WBC unveil the Mazahua-Otomí belt
World Boxing Council President, Mauricio Sulaimán, says the manufacture of artisan belts for special fights held within the framework of May 5 and September 16 annually is in the works.
This time, the “Mazahua-Otomí” belt will be presented to the winner of the match scheduled to be held on May 2, probably between the WBC Franchise champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (53-1-2, 36KO) and WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14KO).
But due to the global situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, it is uncertain whether it will definitely take place, although promoter Eddie Hearn is adamant it will still take place later this summer.
This specal belt features a plate made of obsidian, a volcanic igneous rock highly prized and revered in Mesoamerican cultures. It is transparent and bright and its colours cover different shades.
As it has done since 2017, the WBC creates a handmade belt called “Adolfo López Mateos,” in honor of the former President of Mexico, which is made with inspiration of Mexican cultures.
The first time the WBC presented it was in 2017, with belts made to celebrate the Huichol culture. The following year it was Chiapas’ turn and in 2019 it was the Mayan culture, which Tyson Fury was presented with last September after defeating Otto Wallin.
Canelo and Saunders had agreed terms, but the rapid spread of COVID-19 has sabotaged the completion of the contest, which was due to be announced on Monday, March 23.
Saunders' promoter Hearn said, “Right now, Billy Joe Saunders is actually in Vegas, training. We were supposed to have a press conference on Monday, to announce the Canelo Alvarez fight. He’s out training with Ben Davison and Josh Taylor, who has just had his fight postponed for May 2 as well. I believe Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez, as long as the boxing schedule returns in the summer.”
The 29-year-old Mexican, considered as the pound-for-pound no.1 in the world right now, hasn't lost since his humbling to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013 when he was just 23-years-old. His list of scalps since then has been nothing short of world class and has beaten some of the best fighters in the world across four different weight classes during his last dozen fights.
The 30-year-old southpaw from Hatfield has never lost a single contest, but failed to impress in his Stateside debut last November as he laboured to a 11th-round TKO victory over unheralded Argentinian Marcelo Esteban Coceres (28-0-1). He admitted that there was "something missing" from his performance that night, which doubled up as his Matchroom Boxing debut having parted with long-term manager Frank Warren to join Hearn's stable.
BBN asked their panel of experts if they think BJS can defeat Canelo – here's what they said: https://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/can-billy-joe-saunders-beat-canelo
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