Fresh off unifying all four major belts at super middleweight, Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 57-1-2 (39) is already looking forward to his next challenge.
The 31-year-old will jump up two weight classes to challenge WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu 28-2 (25) next year.
Alvarez, who stopped Caleb Plant 21-1 (12) in 11 rounds earlier this month, has previously executed a hit and run mission in a higher weight class when he knocked out Sergey Kovalev 34-4-1 (29) in 11 rounds two years ago to claim the WBO light heavyweight championship.
Southpaw Makabu, 34, hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo but fights out of South Africa. He is well-travelled despite never having fought in the United States and is undefeated for the past five years.
Some may question the wisdom of the 5-foot-8 Alvarez moving up in weight, but his trainer and manager Eddy Reynoso has no such concern.
“I know what he (Canelo) has done to the heavyweights he has sparred with, and that is why we have asked for the fight (against Makabu),” Reynoso said to ESPN Deportes.
“We know that Makabu is strong, but Canelo can beat him. (Even though) many may say that this is crazy. But they also said that it was crazy when Canelo was a junior middleweight champion looking to fight middleweights, super middleweight and light heavyweights. I have a lot of confidence in Canelo.
“He is very strong and has many qualities, and I know that he is going to win his fight (against Makabu).”
Alvarez remains one of the most active world champions in boxing, fight four times in less than a year and unifying the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF 168-pound titles in the process. He has made it clear he wants to maintain his busy schedule into the new year and beyond.
Makabu claimed the vacant WBC with a decision win over previously undefeated Pole Michal Cieslak 21-1 (15) in January last year. He has since defended the belt against heavy-handed Nigerian Olanrewaju Durodola 36-8 (33), winning by seventh-round knockout last December.
“I want to say to all Africans that when I face Canelo, I will bring home the victory. This fight will be a great battle and we will show [the fans] an excellent fight,” Makabu said to You Can’t Play Boxing.
“I accepted [this fight] because I am sure that I will fight against the best [fighter] on the planet and I always like to fight against the best. I will come for Canelo, I am waiting for him to come to me too.
“Mexican boxing is tough, but we know where we come from, Africa is also a great jungle. I accepted the fight with Canelo and I want to say: Good luck Canelo and welcome to the Junior Makabu challenge.”
