Hearn Believes Canelo Would Entertain an Usyk Fight at Cruiser, But Wants Him To Target Titles at 175
Posted: 18 Dec 2021, 06:28
Hearn Believes Canelo Would Entertain an Usyk Fight at Cruiser, But Wants Him To Target Titles at 175
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez would certainly entertain a potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Last week, Usyk - who currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight titles - expressed interest in facing Canelo at the cruiserweight limit.
“Yeah, I can do it, I can fight him at cruiserweight, but the only one thing is that I keep my belts at heavyweight. Then I go back to cruiserweight, fight him, and then I come back to heavyweight,” replied Usyk to Hans Themistode.
Usyk was previously the undisputed world champion at cruiserweight, before making an official move to heavyweight in 2019. The Olympic gold medal winner believes that he can still make the cruiserweight limit of 200-pounds.
Back in September, Usyk outboxed Anthony Joshua to capture the unified crown. A rematch clause has been exercised and they are slated to fight each other in a rematch in the first quarter of 2022.
Last month, Canelo knocked out Caleb Plant to become the undisputed world champion at super middleweight.
However, a few weeks later his manager/head trainer, Eddy Reynoso, was present at the World Boxing Council's annual convention and requested permission for Canelo to challenge WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu.
If the opportunity was presented, Hearn does expect Canelo to walk away from facing Usyk - as long as the weight made sense.
On the other hand, Hearn does not expect Usyk to return to cruiserweight. And the veteran promoter would rather see Canelo steer away from going to cruiser and instead place his focus on becoming undisputed at light heavyweight.
“I think Canelo would fight Usyk. I mean, I think, obviously, it’d have to be an agreeable weight, and I can’t see Oleksandr Usyk coming back down to cruiserweight," Hearn told IFL TV.
“But I personally feel, I know there’s discussions about Canelo and Makabu, I personally think that Canelo Alvarez should look to become undisputed at 175, I think he can do it.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez would certainly entertain a potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Last week, Usyk - who currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight titles - expressed interest in facing Canelo at the cruiserweight limit.
“Yeah, I can do it, I can fight him at cruiserweight, but the only one thing is that I keep my belts at heavyweight. Then I go back to cruiserweight, fight him, and then I come back to heavyweight,” replied Usyk to Hans Themistode.
Usyk was previously the undisputed world champion at cruiserweight, before making an official move to heavyweight in 2019. The Olympic gold medal winner believes that he can still make the cruiserweight limit of 200-pounds.
Back in September, Usyk outboxed Anthony Joshua to capture the unified crown. A rematch clause has been exercised and they are slated to fight each other in a rematch in the first quarter of 2022.
Last month, Canelo knocked out Caleb Plant to become the undisputed world champion at super middleweight.
However, a few weeks later his manager/head trainer, Eddy Reynoso, was present at the World Boxing Council's annual convention and requested permission for Canelo to challenge WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu.
If the opportunity was presented, Hearn does expect Canelo to walk away from facing Usyk - as long as the weight made sense.
On the other hand, Hearn does not expect Usyk to return to cruiserweight. And the veteran promoter would rather see Canelo steer away from going to cruiser and instead place his focus on becoming undisputed at light heavyweight.
“I think Canelo would fight Usyk. I mean, I think, obviously, it’d have to be an agreeable weight, and I can’t see Oleksandr Usyk coming back down to cruiserweight," Hearn told IFL TV.
“But I personally feel, I know there’s discussions about Canelo and Makabu, I personally think that Canelo Alvarez should look to become undisputed at 175, I think he can do it.”
