Canelo Alvarez Open To Fighting With No Fans, Per Golden Boy
When it comes to the biggest draws in boxing today, Canelo Alvarez is at the very top of the list. His presence has almost always resulted in a big gate, with fans chanting his name with pride. Would Canelo be the same fighter if nobody was there to do so?
Recently, that luxury has been nixed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since March, boxing in the United States and around the world has been put on pause. Canelo was pegged to face Billy Joe Saunders in May, but the virus postponed any plans of that happening. Now, as boxing slowly makes its return, the real question is simple: when is the right time to bring Canelo back?
Signing a 10-fight, $365 million contract with DAZN in 2018, the deal requires fights to be fulfilled. According to Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez on “The 3 Knockdown Rule” podcast, the former WBO Light-Heavyweight Champion is interested in competing whenever, even without an audience.
“Yes, for the time being, Canelo is open to fighting in September with no fans,” Gomez stated, via ESPN. “We’re actually discussing all the details now. But he’s open to it.”
Canelo’s top nine bouts have resulted in $605,000,000 in revenue. That is all in the 2010s. While it was Gomez who stated it, Alvarez has yet to confirm or deny the claim.
The appearance of Canelo may also have to do with the opponent. Currently, there are plans for a Canelo bout with Sergiy Derevyanchenko or Anthony Dirrell. Focusing on another opponent, a Gennadiy Golvkin trilogy bout might have to wait until 2021. Both Golovkin fights ended up resulting in 230,000,000 in revenue and 2,400,000 PPV buys.
Golden Boy is currently scheduled to resume operations on July 4. Canelo protege Ryan Garcia is expected to headline the card. The clock is ticking to find Canelo an opponent before the end of the year. Will a big enough star step up, even with the understanding there may not be fans in the building to watch the fight?
“It’s going to be tricky. There are certain fighters that are going to accept it. They understand it,” Gomez went on to say. “There are other fighters that are going to reject it.”