Satruday's fight will mark Alvarez' 13th appearance on HBO programming since leaving Showtime in '14GETTY IMAGES
Canelo Alvarez' contract with HBO expires following Saturday's bout with Gennady Golovkin, and while Golden Boy Promotions maintains that Alvarez is "free to pursue other options, HBO sees the situation differently," according to Mike Coppinger of THE RING. HBO "holds first right of contract negotiations and last right of refusal" with Alvarez and Golovkin, whose contract with the net reportedly also will expire, but Alvarez' status is a "bit murkier." HBO believes that Alvarez "owes the network a fight that would be available to subscribers (and not PPV) dating back" to '16. Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya said, "I'm sure (HBO) is going to hold strong, but my lawyers are saying it's our last fight; very confident." But he added, "I'm not saying that HBO is out of the picture, because HBO will never be out of the picture. HBO is like my family. But there's different platforms that we have to take into consideration and do what's best for the kid." Coppinger notes Alvarez "jettisoned Showtime for HBO" in '14, and Saturday's fight "will mark his 13th appearance on the network's programming" (RINGTV.com, 9/14). In L.A., Lance Pugmire writes if Alvarez does leave HBO, his suitors "will be plenty." In addition to ESPN "investing deeply" in a seven-year deal with Top Rank to stage bouts on cable, PPV and to stream them on ESPN+, Fox has a new deal with Premier Boxing Champions to place bouts on network and PPV television while streaming service DAZN "will launch next week with heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's title fight" against Alexander Povetkin (L.A. TIMES, 9/13).
