Canelo Alvarez's team open to idea of fighting behind closed doors

Now, as Alvarez and his team figure out what's next, it's looking possible that the next fight for the face of boxing will be behind closed doors.

“We’re going to discuss it and start having talks about it with DAZN, with Canelo, with everybody involved,” Golden Boy president Eric Gomez told Boxingscene.com. “If it’s something Canelo would approve and he’s up for it, and we can make it work for everyone involved, we’re going to do it. What matters is if Canelo is in agreement with it and is willing to do it, and then we’ll go from there.”

Last weekend, the UFC introduced the world to what sports without an audience looks like in the coronavirus pandemic era. John Ourland of Sports Business Daily reported that ESPN+ had more than 700,000 pay-per-view buys for UFC 249. 

Nobody knows exactly how things will play out with the pandemic, but if Alvarez wants to fight before the end of 2020, he will likely have to do it without fans in attendance. Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora said on "JABS" that Alvarez should be ready to fight behind closed doors.

"Canelo is not going to have another choice," Mora said. "Boxing is pushing every boxer to motivate themselves (for) the idea of having a fight in an empty arena. We want to get back to work, we want to get back to the hurt business. Even superstars are going to have to shine in empty arenas."

Mannix said he doesn't think Alvarez needs to make a decision right now, but it's time to consider it. 

"I'm of the opinion, based largely on what I hear from medical experts, that there this is no way that we are going to have crowds in stands in any sport until we get closer to the end of the year, and maybe not until 2021," Mannix said. "If you're Canelo, you're used to fighting in front of big crowds, you've been doing it for most of your professional career, but you have to start thinking if you want to fight in September, more likely than not, it's going to have to be behind closed doors."

Alvarez, who is contracted with DAZN, hasn't fought since his 11-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev last November.

"He's getting a lot of money, millions of dollars," Mora said. "He's going to have maybe the easiest choice. ... It's something that he's going to do because of the money but because of the obligations, not only with the network and DAZN, but to his fans also. (Canelo's fights in May and September are) two important dates for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans and Latinos and boxing fans. We need boxing back and we need the No. 1 superstar."