Boxing Rumors: Canelo Alvarez Closing In Agreement To Fight Super-Middleweight Champ On May 2

The segments of Canelo Alvarez’s comeback fight this year are being revealed one after another. After Golden Boy Promotions said that the Mexican fighter is targeting May 2 as the date for his next bout, a new report disclosed that a champion at the Super Middleweight Division is being eyed as the potential adversary who might square off against the 29-year-old boxing superstar.

Mike Coppinger of the Athletic posted on Saturday night that Alvarez is targeting WBO Super-Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders, revealing that talks for the event could start this week. A win, according to Coppinger, would fix Alvarez’s status as a legitimate four-division world champion.

“Canelo Alvarez has zeroed in on Billy Joe Saunders as his May 2 opponent, and negotiations are expected to pick up during the week toward consummating a deal. Saunders holds a 168-pound title, so a victory would make Canelo a full-fledged four-division champion,” Coppinger posted.

The undefeated Saunders last fought in November in Los Angeles where he successfully defended his WBO belt against Argentine Marcelo Esteban Coceres. He currently holds a flawless record in 29 professional fights that include 14 wins via knockout.

The potential staging between fighters at their prime could not be more fitting for the boxing scene, all the more that the clash would provide the fireworks in the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

“The prospect of him (Saunders) going head-to-head with Canelo is exciting, especially on the Cinco de Mayo weekend,” says Matt Jones of Bleacher Report. “Canelo is arguably the biggest name in boxing, having dominated the middleweight division before his step up to light heavyweight.”

“Saunders could provide a stiff challenge to Canelo, as he's been one of the most proficient fighters in the middleweight division for many years,” Jones added. “A showdown with Canelo would represent a huge step up in quality.”

Canelo Alvarez boasts an outstanding boxing record of 53 wins in 56 fights as he has proven to be a destructive puncher as evinced by 36 wins by knockout.