Beat The Count: Hearn hints Canelo could move back up to light-heavy

LiveScore's Gavin Glicksman pulls together some of the biggest stories from the world of boxing.

Canelo could move up

Eddie Hearn has hinted Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez could move back up to light-heavyweight if he completes his quest to become the undisputed world super-middleweight champion.

Having already collected the WBC, WBA Super and WBO titles, Canelo just needs to defeat IBF kingpin Caleb Plant to go down in history as the first boxer to claim a full set of gold at 168lb.

And Hearn, who watched the 30-year-old rip the WBO crown from Billy Joe Saunders in Texas last Saturday, believes returning to light-heavy could soon be on the pound-for-pound star's list.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Matchroom supremo said: "Once he's done that [at super-middleweight], then he's made another piece of history, what do you do then?

"Do you move up to 175lb? Well, of course, he's already beaten Sergey Kovalev at that weight to win a world title. I don't see him moving back down to middleweight but he just loves challenges.

"This is a guy who won a belt off Callum Smith, two belts in that fight, then he wanted to face Saunders. He won another belt [from him] and now he wants to fight Plant and win the final belt, so he's moving extremely quickly.

"He's been by far the most active fighter during the pandemic, which is remarkable really as a pound-for-pound No1.

"Historically, those kind of fighters actually fight fewer times than others but he loves to fight and he's never out of the gym."

Saunders, 31, was left with a broken eye socket and cheekbone when Canelo inflicted the first defeat of his pro career in front of a bumper crowd at the AT&T Stadium. 

But Hearn believes the southpaw will return. He said: "He came up against the pound-for-pound No1. He got a horrendous injury.

"His trainer pulled him out but he can hold his head up high, in my opinion, and he's still one of the best middleweights and super-middleweights in the world. 

"I think he's going to come back. I think he'll be hurting physically and emotionally from the defeat and we'll support him. I believe you'll see him back again."

McDonnell hangs them up

Jamie McDonnell has KO'd lingering talk of a comeback by confirming his retirement. 

The former IBF and WBA world bantamweight champion last boxed in June 2019, when he defeated Cristian Narvaez on points in a six-round contest.

Announcing the news on Tuesday, which marked the eighth anniversary of his first world title win, McDonnell said: “Well, today’s the day that I am officially retiring from the sport of boxing.

"I have had a good think over the last few months and I have spoken to a few close people around me. At the age of 35, I feel it’s too late to make a comeback.

"I have achieved more than I ever thought I would. English champion, British champion, Commonwealth champion, European champion, IBF world champion and WBA world champion.

"I won my first world title in my hometown of Doncaster and have defended every belt across the world. I fought the best to be the best.

"I fell short against one of the best fighters on the planet and I think if I come back now it would put my life’s hard work to shame.

"I can truly say I have had a blast and lived the life!

"There are so many people I would like to thank but I would be here all day. So thank you to those people, you know who you are, and thank you everyone for supporting me on my journey."

McDonnell claimed the IBF title with a points victory over Julio Ceja in May 2013 at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium. 

He then stopped Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat at Wembley a year later to win the WBA belt, which he successfully retained until May 2018 when Naoya Inoue ripped the gold from his grasp within one round.

Dacres is coming

Solomon Dacres has promised to deliver an explosive performance when he makes his professional debut on Saturday.

Having sparred with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois, the 27-year-old Birmingham heavyweight is convinced he can make an impact in the paid ranks after an impressive stint as an amateur.

The former Team GB squad member, who faces Mladen Manev over six rounds in Manchester, said: "I’m looking forward to some solid performances and hopefully some big knockouts.

"The main thing for me is progression. I need to make sure I’m learning and improving with each fight. I want to look good as well. 

"I’m not delusional, I know there’s a lot of hard work to go. When you’ve got that grounding and experience from the amateurs, it gives you a great platform to push forward from.

"You’ve got to stay grounded. When you’re sparring guys like Joshua, who’s a unified world champion, Joyce and Dubois, they’re having big high-profile fights. 

"You’re sparring with them and you haven’t even had your pro debut. You’re rubbing shoulders with guys that are at that top level. 

"I want to make a statement when I turn over and put on a good performance. I’m not messing around in the heavyweight division. 

"I’m coming to make my mark. I’m an educated boxer. Being from the Team GB squad, I can box. I can move a bit on the back foot, but I like going on the front foot.

"I will look to go forward, be explosive and let my hands go. I’m looking for an explosive fight and an explosive finish."