IBF super middleweight champion William Scull claims he has been approached by Canelo Alvarez’s team regarding a unification clash.
Canelo was stripped of the IBF title in July after refusing to fight Scull, who was his mandatory at the time.
Canelo is set to return to the ring in May in Las VegasCredit: GETTY
Instead, Canelo opted to take on Edgar Berlanga in September while Scull was matched up against Vladimir Shishkin in a vacant IBF world title fight in October, which he won, albeit controversially, via unanimous decision.
The other three major world titles (WBA, WBC and WBO) all remain in Canelo’s possession so if the fight gets over the line then it will be for undisputed supremacy at 168lbs.
Scull claims that both his and Canelo’s team will sit down and have a meeting on January 10 to discuss the fight, although the Mexican superstar isn’t his only option.
“The truth is that there are three offers: to Berlanga, to Canelo and at the time there was talk of [Christian] Mbilli but I think that was left behind because the offer was not very good,” Scull told Punos Cubanos.
“But we are aiming to unify with Canelo Alvarez. And now on January 10 we will speak over the phone and they will tell us more later.
“I will keep you informed on what is coming because this is going to be a great year.
“That will be a good fight for me [with Canelo] to continue dreaming and continue making history.”
Esteemed boxing journalist Jake Donovan confirmed that contact had been made between Scull and Canelo team’s but also added that the Cuban boxer is one of ‘several options’ being explored and is ‘not necessarily first or even second choice’.
Donovan didn’t mention the other names in the hat, although it is understood that a super fight with Terence Crawford remains a possibility for Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas.
The fight has been at the top of Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh’s wishlist for some time now and despite a breakdown in communication in August last year, the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority is ready to make Canelo an offer.
Scull is the current IBF super middleweight title, which Canelo held until July
Crawford also remains an option for CaneloCredit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
“Yo Turki, tell them we are going to go for Canelo next,” said Crawford on an Instagram live video following Canelo’s dominant win over Berlanga four months ago.
The camera was then turned to Alalshikh, who replied: “Yes. Let’s go! Canelo, come on. We are ready.”
Crawford added: “You heard it from him. Just put me in the game b****.
“Canelo-Crawford, the biggest fight in boxing. But we stay ready though.
“We stay ready, that way we ain’t got to get ready.”
Crawford is the current WBA champion at super welterweight, two weight classes below Canelo’s super middleweight division.
It is likely both men will meet at a catchweight, although Crawford insists he is willing to move up to 168lbs for the fight.