Santos Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez Barragán may not return to the ring this September as previously thought. Multiple reports suggest that contract disputes between Alvarez’s legal team and the streaming service, DAZN, have delayed his return to the ring.
DAZN is allegedly asking the multi-divisional champion to take a pay cut when he returns to the ring during the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, DAZN is operating a different economic outlook during the pandemic then it did when they signed the champion to a $365 million deal in 2018. With no fans in the stands, the prospects of a financial gain during the pandemic are slim. In spite of these circumstances, Alvarez’s team has shown no willingness to take a pay cut.
“If it’s up to him — and him only — he would’ve already announced the fight. There’s obviously other parties and other things involved that are out of his control. But everything he can control, he’s on track and prepared,” Alvarez’s attorney, Greg Smith, said.
“Everybody, including Team Canelo, is waiting to find out if DAZN’s going to live up to its obligations…I am aware of no other sticking points,” Smith added.
If the fight is able to move forward, promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that WBA Super Middleweight Champion Callum Smith would be Canelo’s opponent.
