Hearn Backs Canelo To Beat Charlo, Reynoso Slams Canelo’s Sparring Partner

In today’s boxing news latest headlines, Eddie Hearn has backed Canelo Alvarez to stop Jermell Charlo when they face off on September 30th, 2023. 

Hearn is well aware of Canelo’s prowess having promoted him via Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. However, the Mexican’s last few performances have been questioned.

His fights against GGG and John Ryder raised questions over whether Canelo was on the decline after he failed to stop them, as well as having been hit by Ryder’s uppercut on numerous occasions.

However, the Mexican was coming back from surgery on his wrist which may have explained those performances. A fight against Charlo, therefore, could provide a great opportunity to bounce back.

The American will jump up from 154 pounds to try and take Canelo’s undisputed titles. And given that Alvarez is the huge favorite, Hearn backed him to deliver. 

Hearn Picks Canelo

“Everything I’m hearing from Saul in the build-up to this fight is he’s going to be too big and too strong for Charlo, to be honest with you, but Charlo’s a very good fighter. Canelo Alvarez will stop him actually late in the fight. I guess he has a little bit to prove. When you look at his last three performances, Bivol Gennady and Ryder, but don’t forget he had wrist surgery,” Hearn

Canelo’s Future

If Alvarez does come out victorious, then a fight against Charlo’s brother, Jermall Charlo, could be a possibility. The latter had been linked with the fight only for Jermell to step in after his brother’s personal problems meant the turnaround time was not enough to get back in the ring.

A defeat for Jermell, though, would set up the narrative for Jermall to gain revenge which could play out. 

“I think next would be the other Charlo [Jermall]. I think that Canelo will be offered, I guess, a string of opponents, and he’ll choose who it is, but I just think from a narrative point of view to fight, the brother after you beat the other one would make sense, and I think that’s a fight that Canelo and Eddy Reynoso would be comfortable with,” Hearn stated 

In addition, Eddy Reynoso (the trainer for Canelo Alvarez) has hit out at the Mexican’s former sparring partner Ahmed Elbiali.

Alvarez is currently preparing to face Jermell Charlo in a fight where Canelo is expected to win. Charlo will be moving up from 154 pounds for the first time in his career to fight for all the belts at 168.

However, the pressure is on Canelo to perform after he did state that his wrist is healed following his surgery. However, Elbiali’s following comments raised questions over Canelo’s mentality.

Canelo’s stamina has been questioned in his recent fights and that was something Elbiali had noticed during their sparring.

very good joke coming from a sack of potatoes, that's why it's so complicated to give opponents the opportunity to spar with champions, because they treat them well in the ring and they think they can, so they come back talking shit! 👊🏼👊🏼 https://t.co/O0F7dZfOW6

— EDDY REYNOSO (@CANELOTEAM) September 19, 2023

“I think he’s just very lazy. Not volume, he’s genuinely tired. I think he’s genuinely tired of boxing. Not in a bad way too. I think both, physically and mentally. He’s been boxing since he was 15, he’s had numerous surgeries all over his body. And God knows what he does on the side.

“When you’re being that consistent and working that hard, but you’re putting s*** in your gas tank, it’s gonna hurt.” Imagine sparring a world champion of his calibre and his legacy, but in the third or fourth round he’s like, ‘I’m tired. He said, ‘I’m tired, I can’t right now. I’m like, ‘F*** bro. I swear to God, they just stopped sparring because he’s tired,” Elbiali

Sparring stories have to be taken with a pinch of salt, as fighters may not always show their full hand. In addition, sparring stories are usually not discussed publicly given that recollections can vary. In response, Reynoso made it clear that he was not impressed by Elbiali’s comments. 

Reynoso On Canelo’s Sparring Partner

 “Very good joke coming from a sack of potatoes. That’s why it’s so complicated to give opponents the opportunity to spar with champions, because they treat them well in the ring and they think they can, so they come back talking s***,” Reynoso stated 

The fight with Charlo, therefore, will prove whether Canelo still has it at the top level. That view was backed up by Bernard Hopkins, who highlighted the importance of the Charlo fight since the latter will be expected to be quicker and slicker than the heavier Canelo. 

“This here is really gonna test whether Canelo is declining or like fine wine, it gets better with time. This fight will prove that one way or the other,” Hopkins said 

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