Canelo, Plant talks off after contract disagreement
Boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez will have to wait a little while longer to become an undisputed champion.
Contract talks with Caleb Plant for a Sept. 18 title fight in Las Vegas have been called off due to contract disagreements, according ESPN's Mike Coppinger.
"His bark is bigger than his bite," Plant said Tuesday. "Canelo was offered the highest guarantee of his career: He was set to make $40 million plus Mexican TV rights and his Hennessy sponsorship. No problem, let's fight. We gave it to him. Then they wanted upside of gate and PPV revenue; no problem, let's rumble.
He added: "I question whether legacy or money is their real motive. We've been waiting for him to get done with his wedding, shooting his TV show, his golf tournament and now have tried to give him everything he wants and more to make this fight."
The two sides passed the deal back-and-forth over the weekend, and it fell apart at the eleventh hour after multiple edit requests. The negotiations could resume in the future, but the chances of Alvarez fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend are now in jeopardy.
Alvarez owns every belt in the 168-pound division except for Plant's IBF strap.
If talks fail to reignite, Alvarez could move up in weight to challenge Dmitry Bivol for a 175-pound title, according to Coppinger's sources.