Eddie Hearn has admitted that if he can’t get the Dmitry Biovl versus Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez rematch over the line for September, Mexican superstar Alvarez may look for another promoter for his next bout.
The undisputed super middleweight champion is in a unique position in boxing as he does not have a contract with a specific promoter, but in recent years has had many bouts promoted by Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Alvarez 59-2-2 (39) is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision victory over John ‘The Gorilla’ Ryder 32-6 (18) this past Saturday and has made it clear to Hearn that he wants a chance at revenge over Bivol 21-0 (11) as his next bout.
Russia’s Bivol, 32, clearly outboxed Alvarez for a clear-cut unanimous decision victory in May of last year to retain his WBA light heavyweight championship.
Hearn knows he has to deliver on the rematch of risk being on the outer with Alvarez and his trainer and manager Eddy Reynoso.
“We’ve got the fight in September that we’re planning,” Hearn told iFL TV. “If we can’t deliver a Dmitry Bivol fight, we’ll present him with other options. If we can’t get him Dmitry Bivol or if he doesn’t like his other options, I’m sure he’ll talk to other people.
“So we have to deliver what he wants—as always. It’s not a case of Canelo, you’re fighting this person. Him and Eddy Reynoso come to me and say, ‘This is what we want you to do.’ And that instruction was clear. John Ryder and Dmitry Bivol.
“We talked in the changing room after the fight on Saturday. The instructions were exactly the same. Ryder’s now been ticked. Now we have to try and make the Dmitry Bivol fight. Talks are ongoing.”
The 32-year-old Alvarez, who turned professional at 15 and has now had 53 bouts – including 39 of them scheduled for 12 rounds – has been criticised in some circles for his performance against Ryder, with some pundits claiming they saw signs of decline.
Amongst them was his former promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who Alvarez had an acrimonious split from in 2020.
“I thought it was subpar considering who he had in front of him, considering that he dropped him,” De La Hoya said.
“When you’re a fighter and you have somebody hurt, you finish him. That’s just what you’re supposed to do. And I think that’s what the 50,000 people who attended in Guadalajara wanted to see.
“Look, it’s no secret that Canelo is on the tail end of his career. If somebody tells me otherwise, then I think I am going blind.
“I have no clue [where he goes from here]. Let his brilliant promoter [Eddie Hearn] do what he is doing… I just wish him the best, that’s it.”
