Eddy Reynoso: ‘It could be Makabu’ for Canelo in December

By Boxing News - 03/03/2022 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso says WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu could be the December opponent for Canelo Alvarez to face this year if he successfully beats Dmitry Bivol and Gennady Golovkin in his first two fights this year.

Reynoso, who picks all Canelo’s opponents himself, likes the idea of Alvarez facing Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) in December because he holds the WBC cruiserweight title, and they want to try and win a fifth division world title.

It’s unclear whether DAZN is giving Canelo & Reynoso carte blanche to pick Makabu despite U.S boxing fans not being familiar with him and there being no demand for such a fight.

While it’s excellent that Canelo wants to add to his legacy by going after a fifth division world title, DAZN needs new subscribers, and a fight between him and the obscure WBC cruiserweight champion Makabu won’t do much for the streaming giant.

Again, if DAZN gives Canelo & Reynoso complete freedom to pick ANYONE they want regardless of the fans’ wishes, Makabu will get selected, and the result will likely be far fewer new subscribers brought in to DAZN than if a well-known fighter was chosen.

Fans to see Canelo fight these guys:

  • David Benavidez
  • Jermall Charlo
  • Demetrius Andrade
  • Artur Beterbiev
  • Joe Smith Jr

“Canelo deserves to fight in his hometown. We would love to fight in England, but his priorities are to fight in Guadalajara,” said Reynoso to iFL TV on where Canelo’s third fight in 2022 will be staged.

Image: Eddy Reynoso: 'It could be Makabu' for Canelo in December

“It could be Makabu because he’s the WBC champion. Whatever happens in these first two fights, we’ll decide in December. We got a disciplined fighter, a strong fighter. Those are the only champions that can go up and down divisions.

“Roy Jones did it, Sugar Ray Leonard did it,” said Reynoso on former greats that moved up in weight to capture world titles, albeit against lesser champions.

“Every fighter is different with a different metabolism,” said Reynoso when told that Roy Jones Jr was never the same after he went up to heavyweight and then returned to light heavyweight.

“Saul is a strong fighter and doesn’t have the height of a middleweight. Makabu is a cruiserweight champion already. We’re talking about a super well-done fighter with discipline,” said Reynoso on why Canelo won’t be negatively affected by going up to cruiserweight and returning to 168.

Canelo wants to KO Dmitry Bivol

“I’m going to try for sure,” said Canelo to iFL TV when asked if he plans on knocking out WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on May 7th.

“Bivol is a very good fighter and another weight for me, but we’ll see. I’m going to try my best.

“I don’t care what they feel,” said Canelo when told that Mike Tyson feels David Benavidez is the best fight for him. “It makes no sense for me. They don’t have nothing to offer me. Yeah, maybe,” said an agitated-looking Canelo when asked if he’ll fight Benavidez before he retires.

It’s interesting how Canelo got worked up a little when told that Mike Tyson wanted to see him fight David Benavidez. Rather than taking the comment in stride, Canelo got irritated, saying, “I don’t care what they feel.”

I mean, why would Canelo get upset about being told that Mike Tyson wants to see him fight Benavidez? Tyson, who faced the best during his boxing career, doesn’t understand why Canelo still hasn’t fought Benavidez.

Image: Eddy Reynoso: 'It could be Makabu' for Canelo in December

Why would Canelo prefer to fight the likes of Bivol, Avni Yildirim, and Caleb Plant rather than Benavidez?

“I think it was the best option this year, fighting with Bivol and then the other fight,” Canelo said when asked what the deciding factor was for him to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing this year.

“For me, it’s a really good challenge these two fights. It’s the best deal for me. The most important is to win this fight [Bivol], and the other fight [Gennadiy Golovkin], I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“I need to win this fight, and then we’ll see with the other. That’s joking,” said Canelo when told that Oscar De La Hoya said that he can Ryan Garcia could fight in the future.

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