A rising member of Team Crawford is expected to be “sitting ringside, licking his chops”, when Canelo Alvarez squares off with WBC champion Christian Mbilli.
The two super-middleweights will collide on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Mbilli making a first defence of his world title.
It was several months removed from his thrilling draw with Lester Martinez that the Frenchman was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion, shortly after Terence Crawford announced his retirement in December.
On the same night that Mbilli retained his belt, Crawford had dethroned Canelo with a unanimous decision victory and became a three-division undisputed champion.
Alvarez and Mbilli have therefore not stepped through the ropes since last September and, at 36 years old, the clock is certainly ticking on Canelo’s decorated career.
With a keen eye on facing the winner of their showdown, the Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntryre-trained Martinez is set to be in attendance alongside stablemate Crawford.
Even now, Crawford continues to share rounds of sparring with the unbeaten Guatemalan, who BoMac believes will secure his WBC title shot soon enough.
Speaking with BoxingScene, the American coach outlined his plan beyond Martinez’ clash with Luka Plantic on August 29.
“Let’s take care of business next weekend and then [Canelo or Mbilli], in order to be called the best, [will have] to beat this kid right here, sitting ringside, licking his chops.
“[Martinez will be thinking], ‘If I didn’t damn well beat you, [Mbilli], well, the world would say I beat you. My partner [Crawford] beat you, [Alvarez]. Now I’m gonna come clean both of you motherf**kers up. I’m gonna finish what Bud [Crawford] started’.”
Before anything else, Martinez must first defend his WBC ‘interim’ title against the unbeaten Plantic at Los Angeles’ USC Galen Center.
