Hearn has five backup options for Canelo if Bivol rematch collapses

Eddie Hearn has given five potential next-fight options for Canelo Alvarez if he is unable to secure the Dmitry Bivol rematch. According to the Matchroom Boxing promoter, Chris Eubank Jr, John Ryder, Jaime Munguia, Jermall Charlo, and David Benavidez are all possible alternative opponents for the former pound-for-pound king.

Canelo and his team are currently chasing the Bivol rematch after the Russian superstar handed him the second defeat of his professional career in May. Bivol comfortably outboxed Canelo over 12 rounds at light-heavyweight but now the pair could face each other at super-middleweight for Canelo’s undisputed crown.

However, Bivol favours a four-belt shoot-out fight at light-heavyweight against fellow countryman Artur Beterbiev. If this is the route he chooses to go down, then Canelo will be forced to look elsewhere, and Hearn has a list of names that could step in instead.

“I don’t want to put just random names out there because people could say, ‘Oh, he could fight him.’ None of these have been discussed. Is it Chris Eubank Jr or John Ryder if he beats Zach Parker? He’d be mandatory in London,” Hearn told the DAZN Boxing Show.

“Right now, the one that’s burning him and giving him the fire inside is to avenge his defeat. It’s pretty obvious. He’s a winner. I’m sure there are other options out there with other promoters as well.

“Is it the [Jermall] Charlo fight? You’ve got Benavidez against Plant. That’s the kind of fight that Saul was saying to those guys, ‘Have those fights and let’s build into a massive fight.’ If Benavidez does beat Plant, that is a big fight. Benavidez vs. Canelo that’s a huge fight.

“One thing I know about Saul is he’d fight anybody. So, it’s ones that excite him, and that could come from maybe fighting internationally. I don’t know. We haven’t really gotten deep into it beyond, ‘I would like to try and avenge the defeat to Dmitry Bivol.”