The World Boxing Council (WBC) is willing to wait another 15 days to give Canelo Alvarez time to try and settle his legal issues. The Mexican remains at an impasse with DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions in a contract dispute. His came has requested another extension and the WBC granted him one final one.
The extension is to determine the scheduled purse bid for the Alvarez clash with Anvi Yildirim. A decision was supposed to be made last Oct. 6 but the Mexican’s legal issues remain an obstacle.
“Understanding the current situation of WBC Franchise champion, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, The WBC in good faith extends 15 days and for a final time the purse offer ceremony for the Alvarez vs Yildirim fight, for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title,” the sanctioning body said in a statement.
Alvarez and Yildirim are set to slug it out for the vacant WBC super-middleweight title. WBC ordered the fight to be done last Aug. 18, not long after David Benavidez was stripped of the belt. It was the second time Benavidez was stripped of the title for not making the catch-weight in his fight with Alexis Angulo. The 23-year-old still won via knockout over the Colombian fighter.
The Mexican entered the picture to inquire about the vacancy. But not long after that, his contract problems with DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions came out to complicate matters.
Though there was a reported dialogue between the Alvarez camp, DAZN and Golden Boy made possible as revisions were being made to the lawsuit, it seems nothing positive has come out of those talks. The WBC did give Alvarez some breathing room and the 15-day grace period could turn out different results.
As things stand now, it will be interesting how the Alvarez-Yildirim fight will move forward. DAZN has been hit for meddling with the fights that Alvarez wanted and the Mexican stressed that this was not part of the contract. Also, DAZN was willing to pay only a portion of the $40 million licensing fees that resulted in this unfortunate mess.
Unless the end of Alvarez is settled, a fight with Yildirim for the vacant WBC super-middleweight crown could be affected as well. Even if the Mexican is willing, he could face further lawsuits if he goes on to fight without DAZN and/or Golden Boy in his corner.
Hence, ironing out the kinks and the contract details is important for Alvarez. His legal team needs to go to work to avoid further issues like additional lawsuits appending the current one.
