Canelo Alvarez looking to fight abroad in order to expand his brand

Canelo Alvarez may be a big star on this side of the Pacific, but certainly not the world over and that’s something Golden Boy president Eric Gomez says the Mexican champion is looking to establish. In fact, that’s a major reason Ryoto Murata’s name kept popping up in connection with Canelo, as Murata is a well-established star in his native Japan.

So while Canelo, who has yet to have his next fight officially announced, ponders his next move, his promoter tells Sky Sports that it’s important to Canelo to expand his brand and establish himself in other markets.

“He wants to fight abroad and we have discussed with him fighting in Japan, a homecoming in Mexico, and the UK. He has considered all of those options and, before he retires, he will fight abroad.

“It’s about his brand. He wants to become a more international star, not just fighting in the US. He wants to become an even bigger star than he is now. He has fans all over the world and he wants to build on that.”

Canelo has recently been linked to potential fights against Murata, Billy Joe Saunders, and Callum Smith, but of the those three Murata is the biggest attraction in his home country, described as a ‘Lebron James-type figure.’ That in and of itself could tip the balance in Murata’s favor as Canelo works his way towards global dominance.