Unbeaten heavyweight contender Frank Sanchez expects his gym stablemate, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, to do very well in the cruiserweight division.
Canelo, who earlier this month became the undisputed super middleweight champion by knocking out Caleb Plant, is looking to move up to the cruiserweight limit of 200-pounds.
The Mexican star received approval from the World Boxing Council to challenge WBC cruiserweight king Ilunga Makabu.
Sanchez and Canelo are both trained by Eddy Reynsoso. The two boxers spar often in training camp.
“If this fight [with Makabu] is done, it would be very good. Canelo, I’ve always said, he hits like a heavyweight. I have worked with him frequently as a sparring partner, and I think I think he has a pretty good opportunity [for success] at cruiserweight. He has learned a lot in boxing, he has his punch and he can withstand a lot like the Mexican that he is. I would be delighted to help him prepare for his fight,” Sanchez told George Ebro.
The fight with Makabu is being targeted for the month of May.
Sanchez will return to the ring on January 1, when he faces Puerto Rico’s Carlos Negron in the co-featured bout of a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View card from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Last month, Sanchez easily outboxed Efe Ajagba over twelve rounds for a unanimous decision win.
He hopes to put himself in line for a world title shot in 2022.
“The first thing I want to say is that [2022] will be the year that we’ll be ready for a world title. A name that stands out [for me to fight is] that of Oleksandr Usyk. I’ve always wanted to face Anthony Joshua, but now that Usyk won the [WBA, IBO, WBO, IBF] titles, I would like to fight against him in the not too distant future,” Sanchez said.