Reigning UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, and undisputed super middleweight champ, Canelo Álvarez teased the possibility of facing one another in a boxing bout at some point in the future.
TMZ Sports recently spoke with Usman who laid out his plans for 2022, which includes facing Álvarez in September after he defends his title in an expected rematch against top contender Leon Edwards during the UFC's International Fight Week this July.
"In 2022 I'm gonna shock the world. July, International Fight Week, I'm gonna fight Leon Edwards. God willing I get through Leon Edwards, September, Mexican Independence Day, I will stop Canelo Álvarez," Usman said (h/t MMA Fighting). "Boxing is dead at the end of the day and I’m not saying there’s not good boxers, there’s some fantastic boxers. Errol Spence Jr., I mean there’s a ton of guys that I could go down and really tell you that are fantastic fighters. But boxing is dying. At the end of the day, everybody wants to be entertained. And when have you ever seen the pound-for-pound against the pound-for-pound? He’s walking around saying payday, payday...absolutely. It’s the biggest payday you are ever gonna make. I understand that he gets paid, he makes money. But fighting me is the biggest payday he’s ever gonna make. We talking nine figures, for sure.”
Álvarez on the other hand was asked by journalist Ariel Helwani on the latest edition of his show The MMA Hour to respond to Usman suggesting the two combat sports titans clash and he didn't rule out the idea, but also reiterated that his mind is on other goals such as his upcoming WBA light heavyweight title clash against Dmitry Bivol on May 7. He's also expected to face IBF and IBO middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin on September 17 as part of the two-fight deal Álvarez signed with promoter Eddie Hearn, which adds another obstacle in the way of any potential super fight with Usman happening anytime soon.
“Maybe. Why not?” Álvarez said (h/t MMA Fighting). “You never say no. My trainer told me about it and I said, ‘Well if you say.' It’s not really on my mind. I want a really good legacy for my career and we can talk about other things later.”
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