Boxing sensation Canelo Alvarez has played down the idea of a superfight against UFC champion Kamaru Usman.
While he may be the biggest name in professional boxing, a lot of critics tend to focus on the negatives surrounding Canelo Alvarez. Whether it be some of the controversial decisions he’s had or some of his rumoured opponents, they refuse to accept him as arguably the greatest boxer of his generation.
At this stage it doesn’t really matter how you look at it, because the history books are likely to remember the Mexican as one of the very best - and it seems as if he’s far from done after indicating in an interview that retirement isn’t on his mind.
One thing that apparently also isn’t on his mind is Kamaru Usman.
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is the reigning UFC welterweight champion and is recognised as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the promotion. However, instead of focusing on mixed martial arts, he’s spent the last couple of months pushing for a showdown with Canelo.
Alas, in the same aforementioned chat with TMZ Sports, the 31-year-old poured cold water on the fight happening anytime soon.
“Never say no, but right now it’s not in my future,” Alvarez said.
“Not right now. Yeah, it’s all about legacy right now, but you never know.”
What’s next for Usman?
While Canelo Alvarez has a WBA light heavyweight title fight with Dmitry Bivol coming up, Usman will be turning his attention towards a meeting with the welterweight division’s next top contender.
Leon Edwards, who has been waiting for a shot at the belt for the last few years, looks set to finally get a crack at the king this summer as part of the International Fight Week PPV card.
The majority of pundits expect to see Usman conquer Edwards for the second time and move on to the winner of the heavily rumoured Colby Covington vs Khamzat Chimaev match-up. Alas, this is MMA we’re talking about, and stranger things have happened than someone as good as Leon Edwards becoming a champion.
One thing is for sure - the 170-pound division has never been hotter.