By Kenneth Friedman: Billy Joe Saunders is still in the running for Canelo Alvarez’s fight in September, according to Bernard Hopkins. He says Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) remains as one of the possibilities to fight Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs) when he returns after the lockdown on DAZN.
“Yes,” said Hopkins to IFL TV when asked if Saunders still has a shot for the Canelo fight.
It’s good for Canelo that there’s still a lot of time to figure out who he’ll be fighting next. Saunders posted what appeared to be a retirement hint last week on social media.
The way that the message was worded, Saunders wasn’t going to continue his career. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if he has a chance of heart if Golden Boy restarts the negotiations with him.
Options for Canelo
Golden Boy Promotions have several fighters that they’re looking at for Canelo to fight in September. Willie Monroe Jr. said today that they’re interested in him potentially for Canelo. Monroe Jr. is ranked #7 with the WBO, and he has a three-fight winning streak since his loss to Saunders in 2017.
These are some of the other names that have been mentioned for Canelo’s next fight: Anthony Dirrell and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
There would be fan interest in Canelo’s next fight, no matter who he faces. Canelo doesn’t need a great opponent for him to do well in terms of the ratings on DAZN, and the increase in subscribers. It will help DAZN if Golden Boy puts effort into finding someone that the fans are eager to see fight Canelo.
What limits the type of opponent that Golden Boy can get for Canelo is the possibility that this card may need to take place without fans. Although Canelo’s money with DAZN won’t be a problem, the money for the opponent and the undercard could be a problem. Not having a gate to cover the costs limits things.
Ryan Garcia possible for the undercard
As for the undercard for Canelo’s September card, lightweight contender Ryan Garcia has a chance. That will depend on how things are going with Ryan and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya.
It will put DAZN in a weird position if De La Hoya doesn’t include the highly popular Ryan Garcia on Canelo’s next card. If the money is there, then it makes sense to have Ryan on the card.
If De La Hoya chooses to freeze Ryan Garcia out, then we could see welterweight Vergil Ortiz in the co-feature position on Canelo’s September card. Whether Canelo would speak up for Ryan is unknown.
The two share the same gym and trainer in Eddy Reynoso. If Canelo wants Ryan to be on his undercard, then it would be in De La Hoya’s best interest to follow his wishes.
Ryan Garcia called De La Hoya a “hater” this week on Twitter. De La Hoya announced that Ryan had turned down an offer to fight on July 4 and that he ould have welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight instead in the headliner spot for that card.
