Canelo Alvarez’s Surprise at Cruiserweight Title Pursuit
Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez recently revealed that he was unaware of his trainer Eddy Reynoso’s intentions to pursue a cruiserweight title bout until he stumbled upon the news online. Despite the surprise, Alvarez expressed that he would have embraced the challenge regardless of his lack of foreknowledge.
Proposal for a Fight Against Junior Makabu
At the World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention in November 2021, Reynoso made a bold proposal to have Canelo take on then-champion Junior Makabu, aiming for a fight during the Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2022.
At the time, Makabu had another fight scheduled for early 2022, but Reynoso was optimistic about securing the match. Remarkably, the WBC Ratings Committee consented to Alvarez, who typically fights at 168 pounds, taking a step up to the cruiserweight division, which is 32 pounds heavier.
“I accept the fight,”
Makabu declared, welcoming the matchup. He acknowledged Canelo’s status as the best fighter in the world and expressed confidence in his own ability to triumph, warning Canelo that he might be making a grave mistake by ascending to cruiserweight.
Canelo’s Reaction and Loyalty to Reynoso
Canelo chuckled when he recounted finding out through social media about Reynoso’s request for a cruiserweight fight, saying,
“I didn’t even know about that.”
He also affirmed his unwavering loyalty to Reynoso, stating,
“I’m his warrior,”
and indicated he would follow his trainer’s ambition, even if it meant crossing over to an unfamiliar weight class.
The unexpected buzz surrounding the proposed fight took off on social media, which further caught Canelo’s attention.
Shift in Focus and Future Possibilities
Eventually, the WBC pushed for the match between Alvarez and Makabu, encouraging it to occur in May 2022. However, both Canelo and Reynoso shifted their focus away from the bout, possibly due to lukewarm interest from the Las Vegas scene. Instead, Canelo went on to face Dmitry Bivol for the WBA light-heavyweight title, a fight he ultimately lost.
Looking ahead, there remains a possibility that Canelo will engage in a cruiserweight contest before he hangs up his gloves for good. YouTube sensation Jake Paul, who is currently ranked number 14 in the WBA cruiserweight category, has publicly stated his desire to challenge Canelo for a title in this weight class.
Following his victory over former Canelo opponent Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Paul commented on the potential matchup, emphasizing his aspirations to capture a cruiserweight championship belt and suggesting that it could ignite Canelo’s interest in adding to his already illustrious career, potentially making him a four or five-weight champion.
Canelo, set to face Terence Crawford on September 13, continues to be linked with the cruiserweight division as his career progresses.
