Earlier last week, the WBC and trainer Eddy Reynoso announced that Canelo Alvarez has a new opponent set for May 2022. However, his new opponent is nobody anyone could have ever expected. It’s neither Jermall Charlo, David Benavidez nor Artur Beterbiev; Alvarez is now shooting straight for Ilunga Makabu, current WBC cruiserweight champion.

At the recent WBC conference in Mexico, where Canelo‘s move to cruiserweight was announced, even Sugar Ray Leonard was in attendance. The boxing legend shared his thoughts on the pound-for-pound king’s new matchup.

Leonard seemed uncertain of the outcome of such a fight, but he seemed certain about the fact that Canelo will definitely feel the difference in power.

“You know, I did that with Donny LaLonde, there was a vacant 168 belt on the line, he hit me so hard, every time his punches hit me, he hurt me. The knockdown I was in total control.

WATCH: Canelo Alvarez’s Next Opponent, Ilunga Makabu, Knocks Out Opponent With Brutal Power

“But, I learned something because I relinquished that crown like the next day. I couldn’t be the right light-heavyweight or super-middleweight. You’ll feel it” said Sugar Ray Leonard.

Eddy Reynoso is expecting everyone to doubt Canelo at cruiserweight

Trainer of the year, Eddy Reynoso, shared his thoughts on his top-fighter moving up in weight to fight Ilunga Makabu. He addressed the obvious things first; Reynoso believes most fans and critics will doubt Saul Alvarez’s potential at cruiserweight;

However, it does not seem like he cares much about being positioned as the underdog as Alvarez has been tested similarly at new classes against top opponents many times in the past.

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Reynoso envisions this will not be very different from Canelo moving from welterweight to now dominating super-middleweight. He strongly believes that despite Makabu’s natural cruiserweight strength, Alvarez has what it takes to defeat him. If he does so, the Mexican star could become the country’s first five-division champion.

“I know what he has done with the heavyweights he spars with, and that is why we asked for the fight. We know that [Makabu] is strong, but Canelo can beat him.

“Many may say that it is crazy, but they also said that it was crazy when Canelo was junior middleweight champion, and we were looking for middleweights, super middleweight, light heavyweights. I have a lot of confidence in Canelo. He is very strong and has many qualities, and I know that he is going to win that fight.

“Let’s see if something can be arranged for that to happen. It is one more challenge. Just as we took the challenges at 168 and 175 pounds, now we are going to cruiserweight,” said Eddy Reynoso.

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