Eddie Hearn remains hopeful Canelo Alvarez could still face British world champions Callum Smith or Billy Joe Saunders this November despite the pound-for-pound star’s legal wrangle with his promoters and broadcasters.
Canelo is currently at war with Golden Boy and DAZN after they failed to agree terms for his next fight and has subsequently filed a lawsuit alleging a breach of contract, seeking damages of at least $280million (£216m).
Sportsmail understands that DAZN had grown tired of Golden Boy’s failure to deliver the trilogy fight with middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin and rejected a number of possible opponents put to them by the promotional company.
Smith and Saunders – who was due to fight Canelo before the coronavirus pandemic, and then ruled out a revised September date – were both mentioned to DAZN but negotiations never materialised.
Matchroom boss Hearn is confident that Canelo will return to the ring this year and believes a fight against either Smith or Saunders is still possible.
‘We want to see him back in the ring particularly because the two fights there for him are Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, two of our guys. I want them to have the opportunity to fight Canelo,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘Hopefully it (legal dispute) gets resolved and we see Canelo back in the ring – he’s one of the biggest stars in world boxing and is a terrific fighter.
‘I think the plan is still for Canelo to box in November, or at least this year.
‘If he does, I’ve got my fingers crossed they pick Callum or Billy.’
A Battle of Britain between Smith and Saunders has also been considered, but Hearn admits a fight of that magnitude cannot be staged behind closed doors.
He added: ‘If Canelo doesn’t pick them, they should fight each other. But if there’s no fans, how do you do Smith vs Saunders?
‘Right now it’s about keeping the fighters active but also recognising some fighters are better for 2021.’
