Canelo Alvarez will either retire before facing Terence Crawford or immediately after, despite an ongoing deal with Turki Alalshikh.
Friend and former on-off promoter Eddie Hearn believes Alvarez’s days in the sport are numbered.
Canelo signed a four-fight deal with Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season earlier this year. However, one bout in, Hearn can see the novelty wearing off.
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The Matchroom boss believes a confirmed undisputed super middleweight title defense against Crawford may never happen as problems over the staging persist.
However, Hearn says any reversal will be performance-related as the Mexican superstar’s powers are fading fast.
In his last fight against William Scull, the 34-year-old couldn’t get his punches off and labored to a unanimous decision. He entered the record books for the fewest combined punches thrown in a twelve-round contest.
“A little bit, yeah,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV. “It wasn’t just the fact that he couldn’t cut the ring off.
“I just feel like the timing now, the age. Canelo is amazing, not only because of his ability and what he has accomplished, but the fact that he still has the desire for those training camps and those fights. But I just feel like that desire might be fading a little bit.
“Not because of his love for boxing, but just because of age and life. Don’t get me wrong, the Crawford fight will definitely get him up for it. But I was actually watching that fight (Scull), thinking I wouldn’t be surprised if he retired and didn’t fight Crawford.
“I don’t think he will want to lose to Crawford, a much smaller guy, just because he is at the end of the road. But the fight is so big and the money is so big that he will have to take it.”
On if Canelo would continue after Crawford, Hearn added, “I bet he retires after that fight. Why would you carry on? You fight Crawford, who else is there for Canelo Alvarez to fight?
“Maybe David Benavidez, but the size of Benavidez. Is Benevidez going to come back to 168?
“Again, the same thing. I don’t think Canelo will want to lose to Benevidez because he is not the fighter he was. There is a lot of pride for those guys.”
Canelo vs Crawford
Alalshikh has Canelo vs. Crawford scheduled for September 13 at a venue to be determined. In a stunning timeline of changes, Alalshikh has already altered the event’s date, venue, and promoter.
The winner will walk out as undisputed champion. Alvarez will reportedly trade blows with Chris Eubank Jr. in London before a rematch with Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight, with two fights left on his contract.
Hearn doesn’t believe the four-weight titleholder will get that far. The Essex man becomes the second promoter in days to pour cold water on the state of Canelo’s career.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum stated that Alvarez is no longer entertaining and coasting through fights rather than engaging his opponent.
Both believe Canelo’s next fight will have a pivotal effect on his future.
