Even Eddie Hearn realizes his working relationship with Canelo Alvarez is probably finite.

The head of Matchroom boxing and current promoter of the Mexican superstar has not hid his satisfaction at having the privilege to promote arguably the top fighter and box office attraction in North America.

Alvarez agreed to a three-fight deal with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, the streaming platform with which Hearn has a near-exclusive relationship, earlier this year.

The first bout on that agreement took place Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol sprang an upset over Alvarez in their 175-pound title bout. Bivol won 115-113 on all three judges’ scorecards, but the scores did not reflect Bivol’s clear cut method of victory.

Originally, Alvarez was poised to fight Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy match in the fall, but that was contingent on whether Alvarez could get past Bivol. Now, it is not clear what Alvarez will do next, although he stated afterward in the post-fight presser that he intends to activate his rematch clause with Bivol. Prior to the fight, Hearn and Alvarez were also discussing a potential third fight in December, possibly in Alvarez’s homeland of Mexico or in England.

Hearn, despite his fondness and close relationship with Alvarez, does not think the current 168-pound undisputed champion will resign with him after this year.

“I don’t think he’ll go beyond the three-fight deal,” Hearn told Alan Dawson of Insider in the buildup to Canelo-Bivol. “And I think that’s fine.”

Hearn’s response reflects the stiff competition in the sport for Alvarez and the possibility that Hearn may not have enough viable opponents for Alvarez to keep him interested in maintaining the relationship. Premier Boxing Champions, a rival outfit to Hearn, made an enticing bid to land Alvarez, before Alvarez decided to link up with Hearn. But so long as middleweight champion Jermall Charlo and 168-pound contender David Benavidez, two of the top talents in the PBC stable, are still around, one figures those fights would be attractive and lucrative for Alvarez.

“We believe in him, we have a great relationship and I think, you know, he’s gonna make sure that he works with whoever wants to work with but also in the fights he wants to be in,” Hearn said.

Ever since Alvarez cut ties with long time promoter Golden Boy in 2020, Alvarez has preferred to work with promoters on a fight-by-fight or short-term basis.

Hearn spoke glowingly of that “flexibility.”

“I think that’s the great thing about the flexibility of this position is he can literally go and fight who he wants on whatever platform he wants, but we know we have these next three fights locked in," Hearn said.