Exclusive: DAZN in dilemma over Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's next opponent
Eddie Hearn
DAZN have two options for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez this summer as long as a solution is found for the sport to return this summer.
The Mexican was scheduled to return to action on Cinco de Mayo with WBO super-middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders his opponent.
Saunders had even travelled over to Las Vegas to train ahead of the press conference to announce the May 2 showdown, which was set to be DAZN’s first UK event.
However, due to the coronavirus epidemic, Canelo-Saunders has been delayed with no clear indication as to when boxing events will resume.
Boxing365 can confirm DAZN has two options for Canelo with the first being to reschedule the bout between Canelo and Saunders for July. It would work much easier for the DAZN Global launch in 200 countries and territories.
Saunders is a recognisable name in the UK and if they unleash a £4.99 package then it’ll attract huge numbers. As it stands, some 80,000 people have already requested further details of how to subscribe to DAZN for its launch in Britain.
However, the U.S. market hasn’t heard of Saunders’ superstar ability. For DAZN USA purposes, Boxing365 has been informed they are seriously contemplating a trilogy bout with Gennadiy Golovkin to help increase numbers in unprecedented times.
If they are to meet, then Canelo-GGG will be on September 12 with the Staples Center favourite to host the event. Their first bout generated 1.4 million PPV buys while the rematch exceeded one million purchases on HBO.
Having the rights in America, the UK and Germany, DAZN will be hoping to match previous successes. While the outbreak has had a huge impact for subscribers of the streaming service, Ryan Garcia, Vergil Ortiz Jr, Jaime Munguia, Devin Haney and Mikey Garcia will all feature in quick succession once society resumes.
To add to this, DAZN fans will also get MLB action, MMA, Premier League, Serie A and Tom Brady’s debut for the Tamba Bay Buccaneers in selected territories.
Hearn hopeful of Canelo-Saunders
Promoter Eddie Hearn is pivotal to the future of DAZN’s success in the UK as he looks certain to join them once his deal with Sky Sports expires next year. It’ll more than likely see heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua jump ship alongside the Essex charmer.
Despite sources telling Boxing365 about the dilemma they have with Canelo’s next fight, Hearn is adamant Saunders will get his chance before Golovkin.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn said: “It leaves Billy Joe at the moment with a deal in place to fight Canelo but everything now depends on when the sport begins again because that fight was supposed to take place on Cinco de Mayo, now we know that’s definitely not happening. Will boxing return [in] June or July?
“If it does then there’s a good chance Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez during that period and the date of the Golovkin fight will be pushed back. I think that with the whole disruption that you know the whole Cinco de Mayo and September 13 weekend will have to take a back seat. Right now Billy Joe Saunders is actually in Las Vegas training.
“We were supposed to have a press conference on Monday to announce the Canelo Alvarez fight. So again, right now he’s out there training with Ben Davison and Josh Taylor who’s just had his fight postponed from May 2 as well - no one knows what they’re doing. That’s the moment they’ve got to stay focused, you’ve got to stay disciplined. I believe Billy Joe Saunders will fight Canelo Alvarez as long as the boxing schedule returns in the summer,” he added.
