Amid rumors that Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing would be able to convince Canelo Alvarez to commit to a long-term deal, the promoter himself sat down on Tuesday to chat with the Ak and Barak Show (on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation). Hearn provided an update on where things were at with the free agent following Alvarez's emphatic victory over Callum Smith on Dec. 19 to win the WBA (super), WBC, and The Ring super middleweight titles.
"It's a really interesting spot, this free agency," Hearn explained on the show. "I think the more you look into it, the more you realize what a great position it is for a fighter of that kind of value and that kind of attraction to be in. You don't have the security you would have from a long-term deal, but when you're the kind of draw [that Canelo is], maybe you don't want that security. Maybe you want the flexibility to allow yourself to be great and to take the challenges that being aligned to a specific network wouldn't allow you to take."
Alvarez's been linked with a quick turnaround against Avni Yildirim at the end of February, along with a unification showdown versus WBO titlist Billy Joe Saunders on May 8. As the conversation went on, Hearn confirmed he's in talks with the Mexican star's camp about a short-term agreement.
"We did a one-fight deal for the Callum Smith fight," Hearn stated. "We're now in talks with Eddy Reynoso (Alvarez's trainer and manager) about doing the Avni Yildirim fight, which is Canelo's immediate mandatory, and then the Billy Joe Saunders fight in May. Then, of course, there's Caleb Plant, who is in the mix as well as another champion.
"I think what we saw the first time around was 'Round One' of bidding for Canelo Alvarez. We — Matchroom Boxing and DAZN — won 'Round One' of bidding. Now we're in 'Round Two'. So, can we win 'Round Two' of bidding? We have a really good relationship with those guys. It can be difficult because, of course, I wanted Callum Smith to win. But Canelo loved the show. He loved us working together. He was blown away by the ring walk! I went into his changing room after the fight, and he told me, 'Wow! I've never experienced anything like that before!'
"So we have a very good relationship with him, but ultimately he is gonna look for the best deal available to himself and Eddy Reynoso. If we can continue to work together, it will be great for him, for us at Matchroom, and for DAZN."