Home Boxing News Discussions underway to match Canelo Alvarez with Ryota Murata in Japan

Discussions underway to match Canelo Alvarez with Ryota Murata in Japan

Photo Credit: Tom Hogan-Hoganphotos/Golden Boy

The co-promoters of Ryota Murata, Bob Arum and Akihiko Honda, will meet today to start discussions for a fight against Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on May 2.

The fight would take place on Sunday, May 3 Japan time to be broadcast live into the US market on Saturday night.

“I think that’s a great idea. We’re going to be discussing that tomorrow,” Arum said. “I think it would be a great experience for Canelo.”

The 29-year-old Alvarez 53-1-2 (36) was last in action in November when he knocked out WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in 11 rounds in his 175-pound debut but has since given up the belt.

A fight between Alvarez and Murata 16-2 (13) could take place at either middleweight or super middleweight. Alvarez holds the WBA title at 160-pounds while Murata is the WBA ‘regular’ champion at the same weight. At 168-pounds Alvarez is the WBA ‘regular’ titleholder.

“The Tokyo Dome is an iconic venue,” continued Arum. “That’s where [Mike] Tyson and [Buster] Douglas fought. They would be willing to do it Sunday morning, which would be Saturday night prime time in the United States, and I think Canelo is up for that challenge.”

Murata, 34, fought twice last year. In July he reversed his loss to Rob Brant with a second-round knockout in an immediate rematch while in December he stopped Steven Butler in five.

Alvarez is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.