CANELO ALVAREZ has opened talks to face Britain’s John Ryder – and could be in line for a massive UK boxing debut.
The Mexican wants to avenge his light-heavyweight loss to Dmitry Bivol next September but will return in a May fight beforehand.
Canelo Alvarez has opened talks to face Britain’s John RyderGetty
John Ryder is mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s WBO titleGetty
And after beating Gennady Golovkin, 40, last September in their trilogy bout, Canelo, 32, retained his undisputed super-middleweight crown.
And Ryder, 34, became the WBO mandatory challenger after beating Zach Parker, 28, in November.
It puts him in line for a shot at Canelo and promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed negotiations are underway.
He told DAZN: “I’ve been speaking to Eddie Reynoso and the team over the last couple of days; we’re negotiating that fight at the moment.
“Obviously, Canelo’s got options, it doesn’t have to be John Ryder, but he is the mandatory.
“We’re trying to agree on a deal with Canelo Alvarez, and we’re trying to agree to a deal with John Ryder as well.
“We’d like to see that fight internationally, something a little bit different for Saul, and hopefully we can conclude a deal for that in the coming weeks.”
Venues in Europe, America and the Middle East are all options for Canelo, which could pave the way for a UK debut.
Hearn said: “UK, Middle East, even the US, Mexico.
“Saul can fight anywhere, but it’s always been a plan of mine to take him around the world, and I’d love to be a part of it.”
Canelo was beaten by WBA light-heavyweight champion Bivol, 32, in May 2022 but the pair are lined up to rematch later this year.
Dmitry Bivol beat Canelo Alvarez in May 2022Getty