Eddie Hearn could only scoff at the notion that Canelo Alvarez would seriously entertain fighting a welterweight at this point in the Mexican superstar’s storied career.

Alvarez is currently linked with Hearn on a two-fight deal that involves him fighting light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol and potentially a trilogy with Gennadiy Golovkin later this year. Both fights will air on DAZN, the streaming platform with which Hearn has lucrative ties.

Prior to making a decision, Alvarez was weighing an offer from Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime, a rival tandem to Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing/DAZN.

In a recent report by BoxingScene.com, it was revealed for the first time the dollar amounts PBC had offered Alvarez. The first fight guaranteed Alvarez $45 million to face WBC middleweight titlist Jermall Charlo. Upon beating Charlo, Alvarez would be in a position guarantee of $55 million to fight either 168-pound contender David Benavidez or, in a somewhat surprising revelation, welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. at a catchweight of 164 pounds.

Spence recently picked up the WBA welterweight belt with a win over Yordenis Ugas last month. The Desoto, Texas, native and career welterweight now owns three belts in the division. Spence made it clear after the fight that he wants to challenge Terence Crawford, the WBO 147-pound titlist, and become the division’s undisputed champion.

Hearn believes the Spence offer from PBC/Showtime is nothing more than for show and suggests on their part “desperation.” PBC/Showtime had promoted and aired Alvarez’s last fight in November, a 168-pound undisputed title bout against Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“You think Canelo Alvarez is motivated to fight a welterweight at 164 pounds for no title?” Hearn said of Spence in an interview with FightHype.com. “Like, that’s just desperation. It’s like, [PBC saying] 'Who else have we got?’

“You’re talking about a 147 pounder – they (PBC) want to move Errol Spence to 164 pounds. I don’t even reckon they even had a conversation with Errol Spence. It was just like, 'How else can we stop Canelo Alvarez from going to Matchroom.'” 

Alvarez has not fought below 168 pounds since 2019, when he challenged Daniel Jacobs in a middleweight title bout. Spence has never fought north of 147 pounds as a professional.

An exasperated Hearn pointed out that Alvarez, in any case, would gain nothing from fighting Spence, since their proposed catchweight bout would have no title at stake.

“When are you guys going to learn what Canelo Alvarez is all about?” Hearn said. “Legacy, champion. Of course he wants to make money.”