Currently, as the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/boxing-canelo-alvarez-and-the-rest-of-latin-american-awarded-fighters-of-the-year-by-the-ring-magazine-20211229-0042.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pound for Pound king of boxing</a>, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/boxing-canelo-alvarez-legend-is-bigger-than-chavez-roberto-duran-20211228-0034.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canelo Alvarez</a> has the power and the opportunity to freely choose the rivals he wants to fight. That is the hardest part: to be chosen by Canelo. Nevertheless, there is a boxer who has publicly stated he is interested in other fights above that of Alvarez: Joe Smith Jr.
Joe Smith Jr, 27-3-0 (21 KO’s), is nowadays the WBO World Light heavyweight Champion. He has taken the belt from Russian Maxim Vlasov on April 2021 and will make his first defense against British Callum Johnson on January 15.
The 32 year old American boxer has made a very interesting career since his pro debut in 2009. He is remembered the most for destroying and retiring mighty <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/best-boxer-in-the-world-of-all-time-20210214-0011.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BernardExecutionerHopkins</a> with an astonishing KO in 2016. Smith Jr has lost on his first World title shot against current WBA Light heavyweight Champion Dimitry Bivol.
<h2>Why would Joe Smith Jr not fight Canelo first if he had the chance?</h2>
In an interview for The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer,Joe Smith Jr stated that his current priority is not money but his legacy though. So, if he had the opportunity to select a rival for him, Canelo Alvarez would not be his first pick.
“At this point, everybody would choose the Canelo fight because it is money to be made there. But really for my legacy, I want to be known as a great fighter so I would like to fight Beterbiev and Bivol.What I really want is to unify and to become the only champion.“, mentionedthe Long Island, New York, native.
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Joe Smith Jr, Bernard Hopkins, Boxing" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Joe Smith Jr, Bernard Hopkins, Boxing" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220104_BUS_181925_bernard_hopkinsx_joe_smith_jrx_boxing.jpeg_22993414_010dfb5f.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Joe Smith Jr dramatically knocked out Hopkins in 2016. (Harry How/Getty Images) </figcaption></figure>
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Obviously, after unifying belts with either <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/boxing-canelo-alvarez-and-his-road-to-glory-on-2022-20211216-0019.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artur Beterbiev</a>, WBC and IBF Champion, or Dimitry Bivol, WBA titleholder, Joe Smith Jr would totally take a shot against Alvarez because “Unless Canelo comes up and wants to fight, I’ll take that fight. That is the big money right there, butl am looking out more than just makingthe bigmoney. I want the keep the name for myself and I want to fight the best. He is the best“, he said.
Canelo Alvarez is willing to jump into Cruiserweight to challenge WBC World Champion <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/boxing-the-possible-rival-for-canelo-alvarez-next-fight-20211229-0029.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CongoleseIlunga Junior Makabu</a> in May, but, if he makes history <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/boxing-fighters-who-have-won-world-titles-in-five-different-weight-classes-20211217-0034.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning a belt in a fifth different category</a>, he could be thinking about trying luck again in the Light heavyweight division.

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Boxing: The only fighter in the world that would not prioritize a fight against Canelo Alvarez

Boxing: The only fighter in the world that would not prioritize a fight against Canelo Alvarez - Bolavip US

Whatever <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/offside/how-much-is-floyd-mayweather-winter-outfit-20211222-0030.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Floyd Mayweather</a> does is special. It is clear that he does not like ordinary things. His boxing record, the number of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/boxing-fighters-who-have-won-world-titles-in-five-different-weight-classes-20211217-0034.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world titles in different weight classes</a> he has won, his deluxe watches, cars, clothes, and trips can testify in favor of it; and also his next exhibition fight on February 20.
“I don’t like to call what I am doing a fight: I would like to call it a limited edition boxing showcase cause it is bigger than just boxing“, said Floyd in a press conference held in Dubai, where his next exhibition clash will be held. The name of his next opponent is still a mystery, but some reports mentioned that Youtube Money Kicks could be the lucky one.
The Burj Al Arab hotel will be the venue of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/the-25-top-earning-athletes-of-all-time-20211124-0010.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayweather’s coming back to a boxing ring</a>. However, the fighting action will not occur in a hall: this time,the Pretty Boywill perform atop the mentioned hotel, exactly on its helipad. He has already shown himself on this spot days ago when he was part of a special training session of British former World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
<h2>Floyd Mayweather exhibition fights since his boxing retirement</h2>
After <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/the-most-memorable-fights-between-boxers-and-mixed-martial-artists-20211218-0021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overcomingUFC superstarConor McGregorin August 2017</a>, Floyd has said goodbye to official boxing fights. He left his record with an immaculate 50-0-0. However, his passion forSweet Sciencehas taken him to make some quick returns to the ring.
In December 2018, Mayweather starred in Japan in his first exhibition fight. He defeated local kickboxing championTenshin Nasukawaby the way of TKO in less than two minutes. Nasukawa, who was 20 years old by the time, cried at his corner when the fight was over.
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa, Boxing" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa, Boxing" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220104_BUS_181882_floyd_mayweather_jrx_tenshin_nasukawax_boxingx_exhibition_fight.jpeg_22993414_ffd0f504.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Floyd Mayweather smashed Japanese Tenshin Nasukawa. (Masashi Hara/Getty Images) </figcaption></figure>
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Then, on June 2021, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/floyd-mayweather-turns-down-a-fans-request-for-a-selfie-because-of-his-painted-fingernails-20211025-0020.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Floyd Mayweather </a>had his second exhibition bout: <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/internet-star-jake-paul-takes-a-shot-at-boxing-legend-floyd-mayweather-20210819-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he fought YoutuberLogan Paul</a>, Jake’s older brother, at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami, Florida. After 8 rounds, the fight ended and no winner was announced.
<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/top-25-fastest-boxers-off-all-time-20210315-0006.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayweather</a> has earned $74 million so far for his two exhibition fights: 9 for the first one in Japan against Tenshin Nasukawa, and 65 for the second one with Logan Paul. Maybe his first “limited edition boxing showcase” could surpass the mentioned earnings.
 
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