Canelo Alvarez to chase world title in fifth weight class

Canelo Alvarez has already joined several elite groups in boxing but his next incredible feat would arguably make him the greatest ever.

You can’t doubt Canelo at this point. Photo: David Becker/Getty Images/AFP

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has already made plenty of history in his career but the Mexican superstar is looking to join a fresh elite group.

After an 11th round TKO of Caleb Plant earlier this month, the question quickly became what would be next for Alvarez, having become an undisputed champion.

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Alvarez has reportedly been approved by the World Boxing Council to fight Ilunga Junior Makabu for the organisation’s cruiserweight title.

A win for Alvarez would mean the 31-year-old would claim a world title in a fifth division.

While he wouldn’t be the first to ever achieve the feat, he would become just the sixth man in history to do it, following in the footsteps of Thomas Hearns, Ray Charles Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

But after Alvarez cleared out the super-middleweight division in just one year after his last win over Caleb Plant earlier this month, he would be the first man in history to do the double.

Alvarez became just the sixth man to win all four belts in a division, following Oleksandr Usyk (cruiserweight), Bernard Hopkins (middleweight), Jermain Taylor (middleweight), Terence Crawford (super-lightweight) and Josh Taylor (super-lightweight).

Because he doesn’t have enough belts. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

But Alvarez’s trainer and manager Eddy Reynoso revealed at the WBC Convention in Mexico City the negotiations would begin for the fight.

“I know … what he has done with the heavyweights he spars with, and that is why we asked for the fight,” Reynoso told ESPN.

“We know that (Makabu) is strong, but Canelo can beat him. … Many may say that it is crazy, but they also said that it was crazy when Canelo was junior middleweight champion, and we were looking for middleweights, super middleweight, light heavyweights.

“I have a lot of confidence in Canelo. He is very strong and has many qualities, and I know that he is going to win that fight.”

“Let’s see if something can be arranged for that to happen,” he said. “It is one more challenge. Just as we took the challenges at 168 and 175 pounds, now we are going to cruiserweight.”

A 34-year-old out of the Congo, Makabu has an impressive record of 28-2 from 30 fights including 25 KOs.

He currently has nine consecutive wins since he lost a title fight to Tony Bellew in 2016 but claimed the vacant WBC cruiserweight title in January 2020, before a defence against Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Durodola in December last year.

It’s a fight Makabu wants as well.

“I’m feeling very happy because I fight the best boxer in the planet,” Makabu told ESPN. “Canelo has been beating everyone … but now he’s fighting one tough man.

“I’ll fight anywhere. Even if they put on the fight in his own house with no public. I’ll fight.”

Canelo Alvarez is the king. Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP

Boxing journalist Dan Rafael was shocked by the reveal, taking to Twitter to praise the fight.

“I love @Canelo’s audacious move to go to cruiser to fight for a title vs. Makabu, who may not be well known but he is much bigger & big puncher. The guys from 160-175 waiting for a Canelo lotto ticket: Want the big payday? Earn it by fighting each other,” he said.

“People moaning @Canelo is somehow ducking 160-Charlo or twice-stripped 168 titlist Benavidez because he’d rather make history by fighting cruiserweight titlist Makabu, a 200-pound southpaw with real power, who is much bigger than him? Gimme a f***ing break.”

pay that silly talk no mind…

5th division would be amazing!

go for it, canelo!! 💪🏾💪🏾 https://t.co/LzX80QL0IN

— Glasses Malone (@gmalone) November 17, 2021

Canelo keeps surprising me. Awesome fighter. https://t.co/KGEYLLuDNv

— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) November 17, 2021

But he’s not the only one who wants to fight Canelo.

Jermall Charlo, the WBC middleweight champ with a 32-0 record called for a fight against Canelo before the Plant fight.

“Yeah, hopefully, whoever is the winner, hopefully we can make a mega-deal,” Charlo told the PBC Podcast

“I’m looking for a mega-deal and extend my legacy. If one of those guys gives me the opportunity I’m definitely taking it.”

“It’s going to be an interesting fight. We all know Canelo struggles with a little bit of movement off the jab. We’ll see how he does in this fight. He’s looking to try and knock out Plant. Plant uses his head movement and lateral movement pretty well and boxes off the back foot. We don’t know what kind of Canelo we’ll see. Let the best man win.”

Everyone wants a piece of Canelo. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

The 24-0 David Benavidez also called out Canelo after he beat Kyrone Davis over the weekend.

“I feel like I have the best shot [to beat Alvarez] because I have the most power in the division besides Canelo,” Benavidez said. “I have longer arms, as much as speed — probably even faster — and as much power, too. I’m just hungry for this opportunity.”

Fights with the likes of Jaime Mungaia and a trilogy bout against Gennady Golovkin have also been floated.

Originally published as Canelo Alvarez to chase world title in fifth weight class