Stunner: Canelo splits from PBC, likely headed back to Matchroom
The inside story of how and why it happened and what is probably next for the undisputed super middleweight champion
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The three-fight agreement signed in June between undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s top star, and Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, will come to an end after completing just one fight of the deal, sources with knowledge of the separation told Fight Freaks Unite on Monday, confirming a report from ESPN Mexico.
Alvarez is now a free agent and likely headed back to Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn to fight on May 4 (Cinco de Mayo weekend) in Las Vegas, the scenario being planned by PBC, and again in September around the Mexican Independence Day weekend.
The two leading candidates to land the shot at Alvarez in May, sources said, are the Hearn-promoted Puerto Rican contender Edgar Berlanga, who ended a five-fight knockout drought after winning his first 16 fights by first-round KO when he stopped then-unbeaten Padraig McCrory in the sixth round on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida, and Mexican contender and former junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia.
Munguia is promoted by Alvarez’s former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions. Alvarez and Golden Boy have a poor relationship, but Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy events are both on DAZN, which would make it easier to make a deal. Whichever of the two didn’t fight Alvarez in May would be the probable opponent for September.
DAZN prefers for Alvarez to fight Munguia in May and then Berlanga while Alvarez is said to want it in the reverse order, a source said.
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