By: Hans Themistode
Despite becoming the first undisputed super-middleweight champion of all time, Canelo Alvarez still wants to make his name in the history books once again.
While the star of the pound team proudly posed for pictures with all four world titles after a devastating 11-round match against Caleb Plant in November, the 31-year-old’s side became intoxicated. passionate about being the first Mexican-born boxer to win a world championship in five separate weight divisions.
In a move that left WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman virtually speechless, Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s head coach and manager, pleaded with the agency to sanction during their annual congress, allowing Alvarez to increase weight to challenge current WBC heavyweight champion Ilunga Makabu. While initially flabbergasted, Sulaiman, and the entire panel, agreed to allow their contest to take place. However, before Alvarez is given a chance, Makabu must first defend his crown against Thabiso Mchunu on January 29. The winner of their contest will then face Alvarez.
At the moment, it remains unclear whether the Mexican star’s entry into the cruiser class is temporary or permanent. However, should Alvarez decide to plant the flag indefinitely in his new weight class, then undisputed former cruiser champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is currently the unified heavyweight champion, would be open to revisiting it. his old stage.
“It’s true that I can fight him at cruiser,” Usyk said in an interview with BoxingInsider.com.
The idea of competing against what many consider to be the heaviest fighter in the world, is something Usyk readily admits he never gave much thought to. For most of their careers, they’ve campaigned miles apart in weight classes.
For Usyk, the 34-year-old Ukrainian tennis player dominates the cruiser class. From 2016-18, Usyk won not only all four world titles but also the World Boxing Super Championship. From there, the pound star will follow his path to the heavyweight division.
Initially, Usyk’s journey to the land of much larger men was met with mixed results. However, after two lackluster performances against top laner Chazz Witherspoon and competitor Dereck Chisora, Usyk found himself a pretty much underdog compared to former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Despite giving up considerable size, Usyk still stomped on Joshua’s backyard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the United Kingdom and roughly stripped him of his world title. While Usyk wants nothing more than to enter the undisputed showdown against WBC title player Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian-born is obligated to face Joshua once again.
Having conquered the cruiser class before, Usyk revealed that he clearly wants to continue his career in the heavyweight class. However, if a showdown with Alvarez can be made, the Ukrainian star will be ready to force his much smaller foe but only in one contest.
“The only thing is that I keep my belt at heavyweight. I went to cruiser, fought him, then went back to heavyweight. I want to be in the weight class. ”
