Eddie Hearn Reveals Canelo Alvarez Wants To Fight Oleksandr Usyk For His Heavyweight World Titles

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Eddie Hearn Reveals Canelo Alvarez Wants To Fight Oleksandr Usyk For His Heavyweight World Titles

Canelo began his professional career at light-welterweight, seven weight divisions below heavyweight.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has set his sights on a fight with world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, according to Eddie Hearn.

Canelo, 31, has already won world titles in four different weight divisions and is the current undisputed champion at super-middleweight.

The Mexican, who began his professional career down at light-welterweight, will step up to light-heavyweight on Saturday to take on Dmitry Bivol for the WBA title.

It is the first time he has fought in that weight class since beating Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title in 2019.

Never one to turn down a challenge, Canelo is already planning a potential fight with heavyweight champion Usyk.

The Ukrainian is set to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF belts against Anthony Joshua in a rematch in July.

Should Usyk successfully retain his titles, Canelo wants to face the two-weight world champion at heavyweight - but only if the Ukrainian agrees to weigh-in at only slightly more than the cruiserweight limit of 200lbs.

Canelo's promoter, Eddie Hearn, told JOE: "When we talk about mindset and winning, he genuinely believes he can beat Oleksandr Usyk for the world heavyweight title.

"He said to me 'if you can make that fight at one pound above cruiserweight I will beat him'.

"I find it hard not to believe him. Sometimes, the only way someone like Canelo Alvarez or Vasyl Lomachenko gets beat is when they keep moving up in weight outside of where they should be.

"That's maybe how Canelo Alvarez gets beat, (when) it's a challenge too far."

Canelo is keen to fight heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (Image: PA)
Canelo is keen to fight heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (Image: PA)

Usyk has previously expressed an interest at facing Canelo at cruiserweight if he is not stripped of his titles in the heavyweight division.

Should Canelo beat Usyk at either cruiserweight or heavyweight, he would become a five-weight world champion.

But he would still have some catching up to do to equal the all-time record set by Manny Pacquiao.

The Filipino legend, who announced his retirement in September at the age of 42, won world titles in an incredible eight different weight divisions.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Canelo Alvarez, Saul Canelo Alvarez, Boxing, Heavyweight Boxing, Oleksandr Usyk, Eddie Hearn

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

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