Canelo Alvarez Will Fight Conor McGregor In Boxing, Not MMA, Trainer Says

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, clarified that his fighter will face UFC star Conor McGregor in boxing but not in MMA.

Canelo and longtime trainer Reynoso have been working side-by-side for years. Reynoso has played a huge role in the Mexican superstar’s success in boxing. In fact, the pair was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) as boxer and trainer of the year.

Despite the fact that boxing events are still on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, Canelo is expected to return to the ring in September. The bout is the much-awaited trilogy fight against his nemesis and IBF world middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.

However, Reynoso emphasized in a recent interview with Boxing Scene that all the reports stating Canelo vs. Golovkin 3 is already booked are pure “speculations.” He also revealed that Canelo will be open for a superfight with former UFC two-division champ McGregor. As for which sport Canelo will be open to, Reynoso insisted that they are only considering boxing and not MMA.

"The reports are pure speculation because right now there is no news about anything, there are no fights. Boxing is a business. Saúl right now is the best fighter pound for pound and if McGregor jumps into boxing, then we are going to hit him. What we are not going to do is get into a cage [to fight McGregor]," Reynoso emphasized.

This wasn’t the first time Canelo was linked to a possible showdown against a UFC star. Last November, top UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal took a dig at the pound-for-pound boxer claiming he’s “10 times the athlete” Canelo is.

"I consider myself 10 times the athlete [Alvarez] is just because of MMA in general,” Masvidal said.

Masvidal’s rant did not go unnoticed as Canelo fired back and finally addressed the issue during a quick interview in the middle of intense training. Canelo’s statement was translated and summarized by the interviewer, and according to the Mexican fighter, he has “no business with MMA” and Masvidal certainly has no business with boxing either. He also added that MMA fighters just want to step inside the ring because of “the money and there’s no other reason” at all.

Aside from Canelo, McGregor is still linked with his former boxing foe Floyd Mayweather. The undefeated champ recently went live on Instagram and did some light bag work. While hitting the heavy bag, Mayweather taunted McGregor once again but insisted that he just can’t commit to the rematch at the moment.