Canelo Alvarez could still fight Billy Joe Saunders or Callum Smith this November but only with fans, admits Hearn
CANELO ALVAREZ could fight Billy Joe Saunders or Callum Smith in November, according to Eddie Hearn.
And Matchroom promoter Hearn is keen for fans to be allowed back before any big fight is set up.
Mexican legend Alvarez, 30, is suing Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy and streaming service Dazn.
But Hearn is hopeful the issue can be resolved so Alvarez is ready to fight.
He told Sky Sports: "We want to see him back in the ring particularly because the two fights there for him are Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, two of our guys.
"I want them to have the opportunity to fight Canelo.
"Hopefully it (legal dispute) gets resolved and we see Canelo back in the ring – he's one of the biggest stars in world boxing and is a terrific fighter.
"If he does, I've got my fingers crossed they pick Callum or Billy.
"I think the plan is still for Canelo to box in November, or at least this year."
Saunders was set to fight Alvarez in September but the clash was cancelled as a result of coronavirus.
And if Alvarez is not ready to fight in November, Hearn is considering a Battle of Britain bout between Smith and Saunders.
But the Brentwood based promoter wants fans to be allowed back in by that stage.
He added: "If Canelo doesn't pick them, they should fight each other. But if there's no fans, how do you do Smith vs Saunders?
"Right now it's about keeping the fighters active but also recognising some fighters are better for 2021."
The legal battle Alvarez is embroiled in stems from an 11-fight £280million contract he signed in 2018.
At the time, it was labelled the richest deal in sport – but the Mexican is alleging a breach just three fights in as a trilogy fight with Gennady Golovkin has not materialised.
The Athletic obtained a copy of the civil complaint filed in LA at the US district court for the central district of California.
The dispute centres around the payment of the £27m he is guaranteed per fight.
And in a statement given to The Athletic, Alvarez said: "I’m the pound-for-pound No1 in the world.
"I’m not scared of any opponent in the ring, and I’m not going to let failures of my broadcaster or promoters keep me out of the ring.
"I filed the lawsuit so I can get back to boxing and give my fans the show they deserve."
Alvarez suggested he was willing to discuss 'offers in good faith' amid Covid-19, but no progress appears to have been made.
Dazn bosses are thought to have offered Alvarez around half of the £27m based on their view he failed to fight a premier opponent as stipulated in his contract.
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