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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Canelo Alvarez shuts down "chicken" accusation amid Kamaru Usman fight talk

Canelo Alvarez has brutally shut down Kamaru Usman's manager after he branded the boxing legend a "chicken".

The Mexican star has frequently been challenged to a boxing fight by UFC pound-for-pound king Usman in recent months. Alvarez is currently focused on securing his boxing legacy but has refused to rule out a future meeting with the 'Nigerian Nightmare'.

Usman's manager Ali Abdelaziz attacked Alvarez on social media, tweeting: "Canelo Alvarez is an absolute chicken, he is fighting guys with 5000 followers on Instagram, these guys will never do anything for his legacy. Now I understand why he doesn’t wanna lose to someone like Kamaru Usman, this is chicken style, no risk - no reward."

Alvarez promptly hit back with a brutal response: "Who the f*** is this?" Abelaziz continued his attack of the Mexican accusing him of ducking two-time rival Gennady Golovkin, tweeting: "You know who I am, what’s the difference between you and Usman? You’ve been ducking Gennady Golovkin for two years now, but Kamaru has fought everybody that the UFC has thrown at him. I’m being very nice to you, because it’s Ramadan."

Boxing's pound-for-pound leading star initially ruled out the possibility of meeting Usman in the ring dismissing his call-out as a payday grab. However he later refused to crush Usman's hopes of a boxing fight insisting it could happen in the future once his targets have been met in the ring.

Usman is extremely confident he can beat Alvarez despite having never fought in the boxing ring prior to any potential fight. He also came under heavy fire from many including Khamzat Chimaev after the claim he could beat Alvarez.

However the 34-year-old believes he has manifested victory over Alvarez and is willing to prove any doubters wrong. “See, that’s the thing about this crazy thing that we do; sports," Usman explained in an interview with ESPN MMA. "And not just sports; fighting, No one knows the size of the dog inside you, no one knows it.

"When you tell people your plans they’re not going believe it because they don’t see it. They can’t do it, they don’t do what you do, they don’t walk in your shoes, they don’t walk in your heart and your energy each and every day, no one knows that, no one sees it. I’ve said it; everything, I’ve said it, I’ve manifested it.'

Alvarez will first face Dmitry Bivol and a potential trilogy meeting with Golovkin after signing a two-fight deal with Eddie Hearn. The Matchroom Boxing kingpin believes Alvarez would be open to discussions over a potential clash with Usman. "He's under contract with UFC, but if Dana White wants to do it, we'd love to discuss it," Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show.

"I don't see how Usman would have any shot at all against Canelo Alvarez, but therefore why not. The thing I say about Canelo is, even when you mention Jake Paul to him, he doesn't belittle these fights. Never say never."

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