Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has told ESPN that he is already working on securing an opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s (44-0-0, 26 KO) next fight, and that he's hopeful to finalize a deal with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO).
A Mayweather-Alvarez fight would be the biggest fight of the year, and would be the biggest fight of Mayweather's career since he vaulted into boxing's elite by taking on Oscar De La Hoya, who is coincidentally the founder of Golden Boy Promotions.
Of a fight with Alvarez, Schaefer said, I am working on the fight," Schaefer said. "I'm crunching the numbers. You should see my calculator -- it's red-hot. I am working on a lot of fights, but this is my No. 1 priority. "This is something I am pursuing and I am having conversations with both sides. Canelo wants the fight and Floyd has never turned down an opponent."
A crucial element of the negotiations will be a "catchweight" for the two fighters to agree upon, since Alvarez is the naturally larger fighter. Mayweather is the current welterweight champion (147 lbs.) and has never weighed more than 151 lbs. for a junior middleweight title fight. Alvarez, who is big for his weight class, has previously stated disinterest in fighting below the 154-lb. mark.
Mayweather and Alvarez have verbally scuffled through the media recently, due to Alvarez pulling himself off of the undercard of Mayweather's May 4th bout against Robert Guerrero. Alvarez wanted a guarantee that Mayweather would fight him next, that the welterweight champ refused to grant.
Alvarez then did not fight on Mayweather's pay-per-view card, instead headlining his own show with Austin Trout on Showtime. No matter the opponent, Schaefer said the fight would have to be finalized in the next few weeks in order to ensure a proper promotion cycle. After taking a unanimous decision over Guerrero last weekend, Mayweather said "We'll be back in September."
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