Ben Davison wants to know who Canelo Alvarez will fight on May 2 as much as anyone.
He might have to make a tough choice.
Davison trains Billy Joe Saunders, long rumored to be Alvarez’s likely opponent for a super middleweight bout in Las Vegas. ESPN Deportes reported Thursday that an announcement is imminent, perhaps within 24 hours.
Davison just wants to know. He’s also the new trainer for junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor, who is already scheduled to make a title defense against Thai Apinin Khongsong in Glasgow, Scotland, also on May 2.
“As it stands, it’s not an issue,’’ Davison told iFL TV. “There’s not a clash of dates.’’
As of Thursday afternoon, at least, there wasn’t.
“We have spoken about it,’’ said Davison, Tyson Fury’s former trainer. “If I get a phone call to say it is done, we do have a clash of dates. But we have things in place.’’
Davison would not say which corner he would work if Saunders gets the big-money date against Alvarez. Callum Smith, another U.K. super middleweight, is the other possibility. Money has been a factor in the lengthy negotiations.
Saunders and Smith reportedly have asked for $12 million, light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev’s purse for his knockout loss to Alvarez on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. Alvarez’s representatives have been offering $7.5 million, according to multiple reports.
Davison also said he had no idea whether Saunders would be Alvarez’s choice.
“The public thinks we know six weeks before,’’ Davison said. “We don’t. We’re like everybody else. We’ll probably know the night before it is announced.”