Tag: Golden Boy Promotions

Canelo Alvarez’s return gives boxing a jolt of energy

Canelo Alvarez’s scheduled return to boxing has given the sport a jolt of energy.

Canelo Alvarez made the most of his new-found freedom. And boxing will benefit.

The pound-per-pounder announced only a few weeks after breaking contractual ties to Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN that he will fight super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith on Dec. 19, on DAZN, curiously enough.

The Alvarez-Smith fight isn’t a huge event – a bigger one should come next – but it’s a solid, competitive matchup that fans will buy into, particularly because Alvarez hasn’t fought since November of last year.

Alvarez, who holds a secondary 168-pound title, will have an opportunity to win a real one against Smith. That would give the future Hall of Famer major titles in four divisions.

More important, it’s a legitimate fight on paper. Smith is The Ring Magazine super middleweight champion and rated No. 1 by the Transnational Boxing Rankings, which gives you an idea of how good he is. He has skill, he has power, he has experience.

And the resident of Liverpool, England will have a considerable height and reach advantage over Alvarez. Smith is 6-foot-3 (191 cm) and has a reach of 78 (198 cm). Alvarez measures in at 5-8 (173 cm) and 70½ (179 cm).

Plus, Alvarez is relatively new to the super middle division and above. He fought Rocky Fielding at 168 in December 2018 and went up to light heavyweight to stop Sergey Kovalev in his most-recent fight. However, Smith has fought at 168 or somewhat heavier since he turned pro in 2012.

Critics might point to Smith’s last bout – a competitive fight with John Ryder in November of last year that many scored for Ryder – and say he’s vulnerable. Perhaps. However, it’s not fair to write him off after one sub-par performance.

He acknowledged afterward that he underperformed and presumably will have learned from it. Plus, motivation might’ve been a factor. He certainly won’t be lacking that going into the fight with Alvarez.

In fact, Smith will have a little extra inspiration: Family honor will be on the line. Alvarez knocked out Smith’s brother Liam in a junior middleweight fight in September 2016.

Alvarez is a 3½-1 favorite to win the fight, according to BetMGM. That’s a significant margin but I wouldn’t call Smith a longshot. I’m picking Alvarez to win. I believe he’d beat anybody near his weight, except for a few light heavyweights.

In other words, Smith has about as a good chance as anyone to beat Alvarez.

If Alvarez wins? Anything is possible now that he’s a free agent. And he’ll have extra clout – as if he needs it – as a newly crowned champion.

He could begin the inevitable process of trying to unify the 168-pound titles by fighting Caleb Plant or Billy Joe Saunders. However, some are speculating that he’ll opt to face Gennadiy Golovkin a third time on Cinco de Mayo weekend in what might be the biggest-possible fight for him at the moment.

There is some unfinished business there, as they drew in their first meeting and Alvarez won a close decision in their rematch.

That probably means he’d fight one more time on the DAZN platform, with which Triple-G remains affiliated, although it’s unclear how the streaming service will be able to pay Alvarez what he would command on the free market if he beats Smith.

After that, I presume, he would return to the lucrative pay-per-view model, which would pay him a bundle against the likes of Plant, David Benavidez, Jermall Charlo and possibly 175-pounders like Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol at some point.

If that doesn’t whet the appetite of boxing fans, I don’t know what will.

Yes, it’s good to have the biggest attraction in boxing back. It’s like dark, forbidding clouds have suddenly separated to reveal bright, warm sunlight. Let’s enjoy it.

[lawrence-related id=15632,15624,15496,15410]

Canelo Alvarez’s return gives boxing a jolt of energy

Canelo Alvarez’s scheduled return to boxing has given the sport a jolt of energy.

Canelo Alvarez made the most of his new-found freedom. And boxing will benefit.

The pound-per-pounder announced only a few weeks after breaking contractual ties to Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN that he will fight super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith on Dec. 19, on DAZN, curiously enough.

The Alvarez-Smith fight isn’t a huge event – a bigger one should come next – but it’s a solid, competitive matchup that fans will buy into, particularly because Alvarez hasn’t fought since November of last year.

Alvarez, who holds a secondary 168-pound title, will have an opportunity to win a real one against Smith. That would give the future Hall of Famer major titles in four divisions.

More important, it’s a legitimate fight on paper. Smith is The Ring Magazine super middleweight champion and rated No. 1 by the Transnational Boxing Rankings, which gives you an idea of how good he is. He has skill, he has power, he has experience.

And the resident of Liverpool, England will have a considerable height and reach advantage over Alvarez. Smith is 6-foot-3 (191 cm) and has a reach of 78 (198 cm). Alvarez measures in at 5-8 (173 cm) and 70½ (179 cm).

Plus, Alvarez is relatively new to the super middle division and above. He fought Rocky Fielding at 168 in December 2018 and went up to light heavyweight to stop Sergey Kovalev in his most-recent fight. However, Smith has fought at 168 or somewhat heavier since he turned pro in 2012.

Critics might point to Smith’s last bout – a competitive fight with John Ryder in November of last year that many scored for Ryder – and say he’s vulnerable. Perhaps. However, it’s not fair to write him off after one sub-par performance.

He acknowledged afterward that he underperformed and presumably will have learned from it. Plus, motivation might’ve been a factor. He certainly won’t be lacking that going into the fight with Alvarez.

In fact, Smith will have a little extra inspiration: Family honor will be on the line. Alvarez knocked out Smith’s brother Liam in a junior middleweight fight in September 2016.

Alvarez is a 3½-1 favorite to win the fight, according to BetMGM. That’s a significant margin but I wouldn’t call Smith a longshot. I’m picking Alvarez to win. I believe he’d beat anybody near his weight, except for a few light heavyweights.

In other words, Smith has about as a good chance as anyone to beat Alvarez.

If Alvarez wins? Anything is possible now that he’s a free agent. And he’ll have extra clout – as if he needs it – as a newly crowned champion.

He could begin the inevitable process of trying to unify the 168-pound titles by fighting Caleb Plant or Billy Joe Saunders. However, some are speculating that he’ll opt to face Gennadiy Golovkin a third time on Cinco de Mayo weekend in what might be the biggest-possible fight for him at the moment.

There is some unfinished business there, as they drew in their first meeting and Alvarez won a close decision in their rematch.

That probably means he’d fight one more time on the DAZN platform, with which Triple-G remains affiliated, although it’s unclear how the streaming service will be able to pay Alvarez what he would command on the free market if he beats Smith.

After that, I presume, he would return to the lucrative pay-per-view model, which would pay him a bundle against the likes of Plant, David Benavidez, Jermall Charlo and possibly 175-pounders like Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol at some point.

If that doesn’t whet the appetite of boxing fans, I don’t know what will.

Yes, it’s good to have the biggest attraction in boxing back. It’s like dark, forbidding clouds have suddenly separated to reveal bright, warm sunlight. Let’s enjoy it.

[lawrence-related id=15632,15624,15496,15410]

Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith set for Dec. 19

Canelo Alvarez announced on Instagram that he will face super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith on Dec. 19 in the United States.

Canelo Alvarez and Callum Smith have reached a deal.

The Mexican star, who recently became a free agent, announced on Instagram that he will face the super middleweight titleholder from England on Dec. 19 in the United States, probably at AT&T Stadium or the Alamodome in Texas.

The fight will be streamed on DAZN for what is believe to be a one-fight agreement. Smith is promoted by Eddie Hearn, who is affiliated with the streaming service.

Alvarez later tweeted the news. Hearn confirmed the agreement on Twitter.

“I’ll be returning to the ring on December 19th to face Callum Smith,” Alvarez tweeted.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since he stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title in November of last year.

Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) holds the WBA 168-pound title, meaning he would represent an opportunity for Alvarez to win a major title in a fourth division. Alvarez holds a secondary super middleweight title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Alvarez’s trainer-manager Eddy Reynoso announced on Nov. 6 that his fighter had cut ties with Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN, which put an end to a lawsuit he had filed against his handlers.

Alvarez sued his handlers for breach of contract on Sept. 15 for at least $280 million in damages and freedom to go his own way. The suit was thrown out of court on a technicality and then refiled, although the sides engaged in extension negotiations in an attempt to reach an agreement.

DAZN reportedly had refused to pay him his full guarantee unless he fought what the streaming service deemed a premium opponent. That included Gennadiy Golovkin but not super middleweight titleholders Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, who are top-level fighters but not the type of draws DAZN had sought.

After the lawsuit was filed, DAZN reportedly offered Alvarez a restructured deal by which the fighter would earn a base of $20 million plus a percentage of money generated by additional DAZN subscriptions, according to The Athletic.

Alvarez’s original contract guaranteed him $35 million per fight. It is believed he will make less than that for the Dec. 19 fight.

DAZN’s late offer also addressed the issue of opponent approval, which reportedly would have been shared under the restructured deal. However, the sides were unable to reach a deal and agreed to part ways.

Alvarez will be favored to beat Smith but he Liverpudlian is no pushover. He is 6-foot-3, seven inches taller than Alvarez. And Smith will also have a 7½-inch reach advantage. Both fighters are 30 years old.

[lawrence-related id=15496,15485,15470,15410]

Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith set for Dec. 19

Canelo Alvarez announced on Instagram that he will face super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith on Dec. 19 in the United States.

Canelo Alvarez and Callum Smith have reached a deal.

The Mexican star, who recently became a free agent, announced on Instagram that he will face the super middleweight titleholder from England on Dec. 19 in the United States, probably at AT&T Stadium or the Alamodome in Texas.

The fight will be streamed on DAZN for what is believe to be a one-fight agreement. Smith is promoted by Eddie Hearn, who is affiliated with the streaming service.

Alvarez later tweeted the news. Hearn confirmed the agreement on Twitter.

“I’ll be returning to the ring on December 19th to face Callum Smith,” Alvarez tweeted.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since he stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title in November of last year.

Smith (27-0, 19 KOs) holds the WBA 168-pound title, meaning he would represent an opportunity for Alvarez to win a major title in a fourth division. Alvarez holds a secondary super middleweight title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Alvarez’s trainer-manager Eddy Reynoso announced on Nov. 6 that his fighter had cut ties with Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN, which put an end to a lawsuit he had filed against his handlers.

Alvarez sued his handlers for breach of contract on Sept. 15 for at least $280 million in damages and freedom to go his own way. The suit was thrown out of court on a technicality and then refiled, although the sides engaged in extension negotiations in an attempt to reach an agreement.

DAZN reportedly had refused to pay him his full guarantee unless he fought what the streaming service deemed a premium opponent. That included Gennadiy Golovkin but not super middleweight titleholders Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, who are top-level fighters but not the type of draws DAZN had sought.

After the lawsuit was filed, DAZN reportedly offered Alvarez a restructured deal by which the fighter would earn a base of $20 million plus a percentage of money generated by additional DAZN subscriptions, according to The Athletic.

Alvarez’s original contract guaranteed him $35 million per fight. It is believed he will make less than that for the Dec. 19 fight.

DAZN’s late offer also addressed the issue of opponent approval, which reportedly would have been shared under the restructured deal. However, the sides were unable to reach a deal and agreed to part ways.

Alvarez will be favored to beat Smith but he Liverpudlian is no pushover. He is 6-foot-3, seven inches taller than Alvarez. And Smith will also have a 7½-inch reach advantage. Both fighters are 30 years old.

[lawrence-related id=15496,15485,15470,15410]

Luke Campbell tests positive for COVID-19, Ryan Garcia bout postponed

Luke Campbell has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing his Dec. 5 fight with Ryan Garcia to be postponed.

Luke Campbell has tested positive for COVID-19, which forces the postponement of his fight against Ryan Garcia, Golden Boy Promotions announced in a news release.

The fight was scheduled to take place on Dec. 5. A site had not been determined.

“Campbell is doing well, but the fight will need to be rescheduled,” the news release stated. “As we know, fans are really looking forward to this great fight.

“All parties involved are working to get a new date scheduled as soon as possible. Details for the new date will be announced shortly.”

DAZN is still planning to launch it’s globacl platfor on Dec. 1, as scheduled.

 

Luke Campbell tests positive for COVID-19, Ryan Garcia bout postponed

Luke Campbell has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing his Dec. 5 fight with Ryan Garcia to be postponed.

Luke Campbell has tested positive for COVID-19, which forces the postponement of his fight against Ryan Garcia, Golden Boy Promotions announced in a news release.

The fight was scheduled to take place on Dec. 5. A site had not been determined.

“Campbell is doing well, but the fight will need to be rescheduled,” the news release stated. “As we know, fans are really looking forward to this great fight.

“All parties involved are working to get a new date scheduled as soon as possible. Details for the new date will be announced shortly.”

DAZN is still planning to launch it’s globacl platfor on Dec. 1, as scheduled.

 

Good, bad, worse: A fresh start for Canelo Alvarez and Co.

The separation of Canelo Alvarez from his handlers should benefit everyone involved.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

The relationship between Canelo Alvarez (left) and Oscar De La Hoya apparently was too damaged to repair. Amanda Westcott / DAZN

Canelo Alvarez is a free agent. That’s good for everyone involved, most importantly the fans.

Mikey Garcia was idle for 2½ years because of promotional issues. Andre Ward missed more than a year and a half for the same reason. And Alvarez, who hasn’t fought since November of last year, was mired in a similar situation after suing Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN for damages and his freedom.

The last thing we, as fans, want to see is our biggest stars spending extended time in court when they should be in the ring. They never get the lost time back.

Well, Alvarez is the beneficiary of a happy ending. We learned last week that he and his legal adversaries agreed to end their relationship, which frees him up to resume what he does best: box.

For Alvarez, who almost certainly will be his own promoter from now on, that means he can decide who, when and where he fights. He reportedly plans to return to the ring on Dec. 19, possibly against super middleweight titleholder Caleb Plant, although nothing has been announced.

If I were Alvarez, the only contracts I would sign going forward would be those for individual fights and lucrative sponsorships.

For those at Golden Boy, the separation ends a relationship that was damaged beyond repair – Alvarez had outgrown the company — and allows them to focus on building the careers of their young stars, Ryan Garcia, Vergil Ortiz, Jaime Munguia, et al.

Golden Boy and DAZN will continue to work together.

And it allows those at the streaming service to get out of what clearly was a bad deal for them. They simply couldn’t get the return on an overly ambitious investment, which left them in an impossible situation.

Now they can use the experience they gained from an unfortunate marriage and enter agreements that make more sense.

And, again, the fans are the real winners. They get to see Alvarez fight again soon.

***

BAD

Devin Haney (right) couldn’t make a statement against Yuriorkis Gamboa that was comparable to those of his rivals. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing

Devin Haney had tough acts to follow. Teofimo Lopez and Gervonta Davis recently turned in two of the most-sensational performances of the year, Lopez outpointing the great Vasiliy Lomachenko to become undisputed lightweight champion and Davis knocking Leo Santa Cruz out cold.

Did Haney keep pace with his rivals on Saturday? No.

Haney’s victory over Yuriorkis Gamboa was thorough. The secondary titleholder gave the faded former Olympic champion and featherweight titleholder a boxing lesson, winning by a near-shutout on the cards. His skill set was on full display.

The problem was that he couldn’t take out his 38-year-old opponent, as he had hoped to do.

Of course, Gamboa played a role in that. He wasn’t good enough to compete with Haney but he had the wherewithal to survive. When a seasoned veteran wants to survive, it’s difficult to get him out of there.

That said, Haney DID land some big shots and it seemed none of them hurt Gamboa. That raises questions about the punching power of the winner, especially when you consider that Gamboa had gone down 11 times in his previous 10 fights.

Great fighters find ways to hurt opponents who aren’t in their class. Gamboa was an elite fighter once upon a time but those days are long behind him.

Haney looked good. He probably should’ve looked better in light of his opposition.

***

WORSE

Gervonta Davis reportedly was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Thursday. AP Photo / Julio Cortez

Gervonta Davis has a decision to make. He can follow the dark path of gifted athletes’ whose poor decisions destroyed their careers and lives or he can use his head and distance himself from the forces that will take him down if they have the opportunity.

Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) was only days removed from his sensational knockout of Leo Santa Cruz on Halloween – a breakthrough victory for him – when he was involved in a hit-and-run crash in his native Baltimore, according to police.

Police say a Lamborghini SUV in which Davis was riding ran a red light and hit another vehicle — causing injuries – and then left the scene. It was clear whether he was the driver or the passenger. Surveillance video showed that the vehicle later crashed into a fence, after which the occupants walked away.

If ever there was a red flag in the life of Davis, that was it.

Of course, we must wait to see how this plays out. He might’ve been the passenger, which would limit his responsibility. He might be cleared entirely. We’ll see. However, if Davis is ultimately convicted on hit-and-run charges, all the talk of his maturation will have been hogwash and his life will have changed for the worse.

Regardless of his fate, let’s hope the incident was a wake-up call for the 26-year-old.

His future seems to be as bright as any young star. He has the ability, the punching power, the dynamism and the backing to achieve great things in the sport. It would be a shame to throw it all away because of missteps out of the ring.

That’s what those close to him will tell him in the wake of the hit-and-run. We’ll find out whether he listened.

[lawrence-related id=15315,15197,15339,15373]

Good, bad, worse: A fresh start for Canelo Alvarez and Co.

The separation of Canelo Alvarez from his handlers should benefit everyone involved.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

The relationship between Canelo Alvarez (left) and Oscar De La Hoya apparently was too damaged to repair. Amanda Westcott / DAZN

Canelo Alvarez is a free agent. That’s good for everyone involved, most importantly the fans.

Mikey Garcia was idle for 2½ years because of promotional issues. Andre Ward missed more than a year and a half for the same reason. And Alvarez, who hasn’t fought since November of last year, was mired in a similar situation after suing Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN for damages and his freedom.

The last thing we, as fans, want to see is our biggest stars spending extended time in court when they should be in the ring. They never get the lost time back.

Well, Alvarez is the beneficiary of a happy ending. We learned last week that he and his legal adversaries agreed to end their relationship, which frees him up to resume what he does best: box.

For Alvarez, who almost certainly will be his own promoter from now on, that means he can decide who, when and where he fights. He reportedly plans to return to the ring on Dec. 19, possibly against super middleweight titleholder Caleb Plant, although nothing has been announced.

If I were Alvarez, the only contracts I would sign going forward would be those for individual fights and lucrative sponsorships.

For those at Golden Boy, the separation ends a relationship that was damaged beyond repair – Alvarez had outgrown the company — and allows them to focus on building the careers of their young stars, Ryan Garcia, Vergil Ortiz, Jaime Munguia, et al.

Golden Boy and DAZN will continue to work together.

And it allows those at the streaming service to get out of what clearly was a bad deal for them. They simply couldn’t get the return on an overly ambitious investment, which left them in an impossible situation.

Now they can use the experience they gained from an unfortunate marriage and enter agreements that make more sense.

And, again, the fans are the real winners. They get to see Alvarez fight again soon.

***

BAD

Devin Haney (right) couldn’t make a statement against Yuriorkis Gamboa that was comparable to those of his rivals. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing

Devin Haney had tough acts to follow. Teofimo Lopez and Gervonta Davis recently turned in two of the most-sensational performances of the year, Lopez outpointing the great Vasiliy Lomachenko to become undisputed lightweight champion and Davis knocking Leo Santa Cruz out cold.

Did Haney keep pace with his rivals on Saturday? No.

Haney’s victory over Yuriorkis Gamboa was thorough. The secondary titleholder gave the faded former Olympic champion and featherweight titleholder a boxing lesson, winning by a near-shutout on the cards. His skill set was on full display.

The problem was that he couldn’t take out his 38-year-old opponent, as he had hoped to do.

Of course, Gamboa played a role in that. He wasn’t good enough to compete with Haney but he had the wherewithal to survive. When a seasoned veteran wants to survive, it’s difficult to get him out of there.

That said, Haney DID land some big shots and it seemed none of them hurt Gamboa. That raises questions about the punching power of the winner, especially when you consider that Gamboa had gone down 11 times in his previous 10 fights.

Great fighters find ways to hurt opponents who aren’t in their class. Gamboa was an elite fighter once upon a time but those days are long behind him.

Haney looked good. He probably should’ve looked better in light of his opposition.

***

WORSE

Gervonta Davis reportedly was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Thursday. AP Photo / Julio Cortez

Gervonta Davis has a decision to make. He can follow the dark path of gifted athletes’ whose poor decisions destroyed their careers and lives or he can use his head and distance himself from the forces that will take him down if they have the opportunity.

Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) was only days removed from his sensational knockout of Leo Santa Cruz on Halloween – a breakthrough victory for him – when he was involved in a hit-and-run crash in his native Baltimore, according to police.

Police say a Lamborghini SUV in which Davis was riding ran a red light and hit another vehicle — causing injuries – and then left the scene. It was clear whether he was the driver or the passenger. Surveillance video showed that the vehicle later crashed into a fence, after which the occupants walked away.

If ever there was a red flag in the life of Davis, that was it.

Of course, we must wait to see how this plays out. He might’ve been the passenger, which would limit his responsibility. He might be cleared entirely. We’ll see. However, if Davis is ultimately convicted on hit-and-run charges, all the talk of his maturation will have been hogwash and his life will have changed for the worse.

Regardless of his fate, let’s hope the incident was a wake-up call for the 26-year-old.

His future seems to be as bright as any young star. He has the ability, the punching power, the dynamism and the backing to achieve great things in the sport. It would be a shame to throw it all away because of missteps out of the ring.

That’s what those close to him will tell him in the wake of the hit-and-run. We’ll find out whether he listened.

[lawrence-related id=15315,15197,15339,15373]

Canelo Alvarez becomes free agent, eyes fight with Caleb Plant

Canelo Alvarez’s manager announced that the Mexican star has severed ties to Golden Boy and DAZN and is now a free agent.

Canelo Alvarez is now his own man.

Eddy Reynoso, his manager and trainer, announced that Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions have agreed to part ways, which evidently also frees him from his affiliation with DAZN. The separation takes effect today.

And the three-division titleholder, who hasn’t fought since November of last year, is wasting no time restarting his career. ESPN is reporting that Alvarez is targeting a Dec. 19 return against super middleweight titleholder Caleb Plant, although nothing has been finalized.

Plant is affiliated with Premier Boxing Champions, a rival of Golden Boy.

“In my role as manager and coach of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, I allow myself to communicate to the boxing community and to all our fans, that starting today, November 6th, “Canelo” becomes a free agent, so we are ready to continue with his boxing career,” Reynoso said in a statement.

“All this time we have been working very hard in the gym with a lot of responsibility and discipline, to be in great physical shape and ready to fight this year and it will be!

“We will announce date, rival and place very soon, and we will return stronger than ever to keep growing and showing that Mexican boxing is the best.”

Neither Golden Boy nor DAZN has made public comments.

Alvarez sued his handlers for breach of contract on Sept. 15 for at least $280 million in damages and freedom to go his own way. The suit was thrown out of court on a technicality and then refiled, although the sides engaged in extension negotiations in an attempt to reach an agreement.

DAZN reportedly had refused to pay him his full guarantee unless he fought what the streaming serviced deemed a premium opponent. That included Gennadiy Golovkin but not super middleweight titleholders Billy Joe Saunders or Callum Smith, who are top-level fighters but not the type of draws DAZN seeks.

After the lawsuit was filed, DAZN reportedly offered Alvarez a restructured deal by which the fighter would earn a base of $20 million plus a percentage of money generated by additional DAZN subscriptions, according to The Athletic. Alvarez’s original contract guaranteed him $35 million per fight.

The offer also addressed the issue of opponent approval, which reportedly would be shared under the restructured deal.

However, in the end, efforts to salvage the relationship failed and the sides agreed to sever ties. The 11-fight, $365 million deal Alvarez signed in 2018 is dead. Now he’s free to fight who, when and where he pleases for top pay-per-view dollar.

Alvarez last fought in in November of last year, when he stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title.

Canelo Alvarez becomes free agent, eyes fight with Caleb Plant

Canelo Alvarez’s manager announced that the Mexican star has severed ties to Golden Boy and DAZN and is now a free agent.

Canelo Alvarez is now his own man.

Eddy Reynoso, his manager and trainer, announced that Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions have agreed to part ways, which evidently also frees him from his affiliation with DAZN. The separation takes effect today.

And the three-division titleholder, who hasn’t fought since November of last year, is wasting no time restarting his career. ESPN is reporting that Alvarez is targeting a Dec. 19 return against super middleweight titleholder Caleb Plant, although nothing has been finalized.

Plant is affiliated with Premier Boxing Champions, a rival of Golden Boy.

“In my role as manager and coach of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, I allow myself to communicate to the boxing community and to all our fans, that starting today, November 6th, “Canelo” becomes a free agent, so we are ready to continue with his boxing career,” Reynoso said in a statement.

“All this time we have been working very hard in the gym with a lot of responsibility and discipline, to be in great physical shape and ready to fight this year and it will be!

“We will announce date, rival and place very soon, and we will return stronger than ever to keep growing and showing that Mexican boxing is the best.”

Neither Golden Boy nor DAZN has made public comments.

Alvarez sued his handlers for breach of contract on Sept. 15 for at least $280 million in damages and freedom to go his own way. The suit was thrown out of court on a technicality and then refiled, although the sides engaged in extension negotiations in an attempt to reach an agreement.

DAZN reportedly had refused to pay him his full guarantee unless he fought what the streaming serviced deemed a premium opponent. That included Gennadiy Golovkin but not super middleweight titleholders Billy Joe Saunders or Callum Smith, who are top-level fighters but not the type of draws DAZN seeks.

After the lawsuit was filed, DAZN reportedly offered Alvarez a restructured deal by which the fighter would earn a base of $20 million plus a percentage of money generated by additional DAZN subscriptions, according to The Athletic. Alvarez’s original contract guaranteed him $35 million per fight.

The offer also addressed the issue of opponent approval, which reportedly would be shared under the restructured deal.

However, in the end, efforts to salvage the relationship failed and the sides agreed to sever ties. The 11-fight, $365 million deal Alvarez signed in 2018 is dead. Now he’s free to fight who, when and where he pleases for top pay-per-view dollar.

Alvarez last fought in in November of last year, when he stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title.