Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Kamaru Usman trade shots over potential crossover clash

Both fighters reside currently at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings in their respective sports

Canelo Alvarez, of Mexico, poses with the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF belts after defeating Caleb Plant in a super middleweight title unification fight Saturday, November 6, 2021, in Las Vegas. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez, of Mexico, celebrates after defeating Caleb Plant. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez celebrates. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez, of Mexico, celebrates after defeating Caleb Plant by TKO in a super middleweight title unification fight. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez knocks down Caleb Plant for the second time in Round 11 before the contest was called off. AP Photo

Caleb Plant goes down for a second time in Round 11. AP Photo

Referee Russell Mora gives Caleb Plant a standing count. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant box during their undisputed super middleweight world championship boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Reuters

Canelo Alvarez hits Caleb Plant. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant box during their undisputed super middleweight world championship boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Reuters

Caleb Plant hits Canelo Alvarez. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez hits Caleb Plant. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez knocks down Caleb Plant in Round 11. Reuters

Caleb Plant is knocked out by Canelo Alvarez. Reuters

Caleb Plant, left, hits Canelo Alvarez. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez, left, and Caleb Plant fight. AP Photo

Caleb Plant hits Canelo Alvarez. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez hits Caleb Plant. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez, of Mexico, stands in the ring at the start of the fight. AP Photo

Canelo Alvarez, of Mexico, enters the arena. AP Photo

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Kamaru Usman, the pound-for-pound No 1s in boxing and the UFC respectively, have continued to exchange barbs regarding a potential crossover bout.

Speculation the two could meet in a boxing clash has ramped up the past few months, with UFC welterweight belt-holder Usman declaring last month he would stop the undisputed super middleweight champion should a lucrative match-up materialise.

The possible encounter has again been in the news this week, after Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, labelled Alvarez an “absolute chicken” for not wanting to face his client.

After Alvarez bit back on social media, Usman stepped in, tweeting late on Wednesday: “Let’s just all relax… before somebody gets hurt.”

That prompted a back-and-forward between the pair online, with Alvarez telling Usman he would have to bide his time, saying: “You calling me out right ? You want the pay day right ? So you know where, but sit down it's not your turn yet. I have a legacy to make.”

Early on Thursday, Usman responded: “Enough said… you don’t want that smoke in a real fight. I hear you! Good luck champ.”

Usman, 34, has held the welterweight title for three years, with five successful defences in that time – including once in Abu Dhabi, during the inaugural Fight Island in July 2020 – catapulting him to the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. He is currently 15-0 in the promotion having most recently defeated No 1-ranked challenger Colby Covington by unanimous decision in their rematch at UFC 268 in November.

Alvarez, meanwhile, has won 15 of his past 16 bouts – he drew his first fight with Gennady Golovkin, in late 2017 - since losing to Floyd Mayweather in 2013. The Mexican, 31, has returned to light heavyweight to take on undefeated WBA (Super) champion Dmitry Bivol at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas next week.

Alvarez and Usman are not the only boxing and MMA champions to be sizing each other up for a blockbuster crossover bout, with heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou also keen to clash.

Fury retained his WBC heavyweight title with a stoppage win over Dillian Whyte on Saturday, and UFC champion Ngannou joined the British fighter in the ring after the bout.

Ngannou has since said he would only be interested in renewing his UFC contract if it includes the option to face Fury in a crossover fight.

Usman retains title at UFC 268