Negotiations between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Badou Jack for a showdown to determine the WBC cruiserweight champion are reaching a crucial stage.
While Canelo currently holds the undisputed super-middleweight title, he is considering a move up to the 200-pound weight class to face Jack before the end of the year.
Previously, Alvarez had been strongly linked to a September rematch with Dmitry Bivol. Who defeated him by points in May of the previous year. However, no agreement has been reached yet, and the planned date for the return bout was initially set for Mexican Independence weekend in September.
Canelo Alvarez vs Badou Jack confirmed?
Recently, Amer Abdullah, the head of Boxing at Skill Challenge Entertainment based in Saudi Arabia and representing Jack, disclosed that discussions for a potential clash later this year are progressing positively.
Badou claimed the WBC cruiserweight title by securing a 12th-round stoppage victory over Ilunga Makabu in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, in February. However, he has yet to arrange his first title defense.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Badou Jack Negotiations Going 'Very Well' https://t.co/YxnVA8WIvq pic.twitter.com/7k5OzaNgWK
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) June 12, 2023
Given Jack’s history in lower-weight divisions and his advanced career stage. Canelo may perceive an opportunity to add another championship in a new weight class by facing a potentially weakened opponent.
However, there seems to be some disagreement regarding the weight limit. Jack’s manager, Amer Abdallah, emphasized that a title fight at 200 pounds should be contested at that weight, without any adjustments to a lower limit.
This issue was further addressed by Abdallah in a separate interview with Boxing King Media. The outcome of these negotiations remains to be seen.
“We’re talking to Canelo directly,” Abdallah said of the booking. “There is the intention to have the fight. I believe of the 5 or 6 terms that are there. We’re agreed on the majority of them.
I think the only thing that’s sticking right now is where that weight is. Because the financial terms are agreed upon. The date is agreed upon. Everything is there. It’s just that the weight is where the sticking point is.”
However, Abdullah also unveiled that Jack, who previously held the WBC championship in the super middleweight division and currently holds the WBA regular title in the light heavyweight category, may not be finished ascending through various weight divisions.
Why did Dmitry Bivol reject the rematch?
Canelo’s desired course of action had initially appeared to be a rematch with Dmitry Bivol. However, an unusual obstacle has arisen in negotiations, as both fighters insist on competing at the weight favored by the other.
Alvarez wishes to prove himself in the same weight class where he suffered the loss, the light heavyweight division. While Dmitry finds no challenge in that scenario. Bivol has made it clear that he will only face Canelo if the super middleweight belts are at stake.
Currently, neither fighter is willing to compromise on their position, leading both to explore alternative options for autumn fights.
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