Canelo Alvarez surprises and defends the union between Dana White and his rival: 'They need to work together'

Canelo Alvarez at the weigh-in. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Canelo Alvarez has decided to weigh in on one of the potential major alliances in combat sports. The Mexican star advocated for a closer relationship between Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and Dana White, president of the UFC, and stated that the athletes' interests should take precedence over any rivalry between promoters.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani's YouTube channel, Canelo stated that those in charge of large organizations should join forces to create new opportunities for competitors. According to the former world champion, athletes need to be the top priority in sports.

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“They need to work together. Why not, right? The important thing is the fighters, not the promoters. They should work together for the fighters,” declared Canelo Alvarez.

The Mexican's statement comes at a time of growing ties between boxing and MMA, especially after Dana White began his expansion into professional boxing. On the other hand, Eddie Hearn remains one of the most influential figures in the noble art and has also expanded his involvement in mixed martial arts as a manager for names like Tom Aspinall and Ian Garry.

The boxing legend maintains a close relationship with Hearn, who was responsible for promoting some of the biggest fights of the Mexican's career. Furthermore, Canelo has already shown respect for Dana White's work in building the UFC into the biggest boxing organization in the world.

According to the Mexican, a union between two of the leading names in combat sports could transform the current landscape and position the athletes as the main beneficiaries of this potential partnership.

Who is Eddie Hearn?

Eddie Hearn and Borrachinha at a boxing event. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/

Besides being one of Dana White's main rivals in combat sports, Eddie Hearn is the president of Matchroom Boxing, one of the world's largest boxing promoters. Throughout his career, the Briton has helped launch the careers of names like Anthony Joshua, Canelo Álvarez, Gennady Golovkin, and Vasyl Lomachenko. In recent years, he has also invested in MMA and now represents athletes such as Tom Aspinall and Ian Garry through the Matchroom Talent Agency.

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