Tag: Artur Beterbiev

Canelo Alvarez gives up light heavyweight title he won last month

Canelo Alvarez is relinquishing his light heavyweight title, opening the way for him to fight at 160 or 168 pounds in his next bout, in May.

Canelo Alvarez is relinquishing the light heavyweight title he took from Sergey Kovalev, opening the way for him to fight at middleweight or super-middle in his next bout, expected in May.

Canelo, still the reigning middleweight champion, announced the move Tuesday in a statement released by Golden Boy Promotions.

“I know that my accomplishments in the ring have brought pride to my fans and my country,” said Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs), who scored an 11th-round stoppage of Kovalev on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. “I have long enjoyed my relationship with the WBO (World Boxing Organization) and appreciate all they do to preserve and enhance the sport of boxing.

“This agreement allows the WBO to have its light heavyweight title contested regularly and allows me to pursue bouts against the best opponents, regardless of weight class.”

The move appears to eliminate any immediate chance of Alvarez fighting Artur Beterbiev, who holds two 175-pound belts. Before and after Canelo’s victory over Kovalev, Beterbiev was mentioned as a possibility. And for now, a fight between Canelo and fellow Mexican Gilberto Ramirez, the WBO’s No. 1 ranked contender at 175 pounds, is also off the board. That matchup would’ve been a big event for Canelo’s expected date celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

However, a third fight with middleweight Gennadiy Golovkin still appears to be an option.

Canelo, who has a win and draw against Golovkin, has said he no longer sees Triple-G as a challenge. However, he has also said he would do a third fight if it made financial sense. It is believed that a third fight would be a big money maker. It’s also doable. Both Canelo and GGG are tied to DAZN.

Canelo, 29, has shown no interest in Demetrius Andrade, a 160-pound belt holder, whom he called “boring.’’ Another possibility is Jermall Charlo, another titleholder.

Badou Jack refreshed, hungry: ‘I’m coming to take back my title’

Badou Jack is training for his December fight against Jean Pascal, his first bout since suffering a horrible cut in a loss to Marcus Browne.

Healing is not easy in boxing. But it’s necessary, an inevitable process as challenging as any tough opponent. Ask Badou Jack.

Jack is back, training for light heavyweight Jean Pascal on December 28 in Atlanta in his first bout since suffering the kind of cut that would make a lot of fighters think about a different line of work.

In a decision loss last January to Marcus Browne in Las Vegas, Jack was left with a huge gash across his forehead, the result of a clash of heads in the seventh round. Jack remembers the blood. He remembers the blurred vision. Remembers the aftermath, too.

Initially, it was reported that Jack needed 25 stitches. But the deep gash required a lot more surgery. He said he wound up with 136 stitches to seal a wound as deep as it was ugly

Jack, 36, took the time to reflect. He has his Badou Jack Foundation, which he started in an ongoing fight to get food to refugee kids in Jordan and Syria.

Badou Jack (wearing white shirt) and Gervonta Davis recently discussed their upcoming fights. Sean Michael Ham / Mayweather Promotions

For Jack, there is always another fight to wage. Being away from the ring for nearly a year, he says, turned into a positive.

“I feel like a young 36 years old,’’ Jack said recently in Las Vegas. “I live a clean life. I’m always in the gym training, and I try not to take any punishment. I have a couple of years left, and I’m more motivated now than ever.

“I needed that little break. I hadn’t had a break since I was an amateur 20 years ago. I took time to relax with the family and eat good food.

“Now I’m hungry.”

Hungry enough, he said, to fight anybody at 175 pounds, a division suddenly as intriguing as any. Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez has a light heavweight belt, which he took from Sergey Kovalev in an 11th-round stoppage on November 2.

There is Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Beterbiev appears to be the best. He took two of the belts with a brutal stoppage of Oleksandr Gvozdyk on October 18 in Philadelphia.

“He’s a beast,’’ Jack said of Beterbiev.

Jack’s willingness to fight anybody is not a surprise. Not a cliché, either. It’s just what he does.

At super middleweight, he beat Anthony Dirrell, George Groves and Lucian Bute. At light heavy, he beat Nathan Cleverly and fought Adonis Stevenson to a draw. It’s been daunting. It’s been dangerous. But it has been – and still is – Jack.

“I’ve been ready to fight for a couple of months,’’ said Jack (22-2-3, 15 knockouts). “Everyone who saw me in my last fight could see I was flat.

“I’m excited for this fight. I actually called Pascal (34-6-1, 20 KOs) the day before his last fight and let him know I was rooting for him. But this is business at the end of the day. I’m coming to take back my title.”