UFC champion Kamaru Usman has cited his knockout win over Jorge Masvidal as proof he could beat Canelo Alvarez.
Alvarez has been frequently challenged to a fight by pound-for-pound No.1 Usman since last year. Alvarez states he is currently focusing on cementing his boxing legacy but has refused to rule out a future meeting with 'The Nigerian Nightmare'.
Usman is pencilled in to defend his welterweight title later this year, but has suggested Cinco De Mayo weekend in September as a potential date to face Alvarez. The UFC star pointed to his knockout of the year contender against Masvidal last April as proof he could fair well against the Mexican.
“You would think I train on how to punch people’s faces,” Usman jokingly said on The Pat McAfee Show. “I put in work. I put in work each and every day, whether it’s boxing or kickboxing. We put in the time. With that time, I’m confident in my abilities.
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"When I said, ‘Hey, Jorge Masvidal, you said you wanted a full camp, that you were going to be able to take me out with a full camp.’ I said, ‘Hey, this time I’m going to knock your head to the moon and I’m going to do it.’
“After I went out there and dealt with [Gilbert] Burns, I got him back and said, ‘Masvidal, you’re next. I’ll give you another shot, I’ll give you a full camp and I’m knocking your head to the moon this time.’ Everyone said, ‘Masvidal’s the best boxer in MMA.’ I sent him to the shadow realm. I think he’s still up there.”
Alvarez was beaten for the first time in almost a decade last weekend when light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol outpointed him in Las Vegas. The Mexican has since lost his spot as pound-for-pound No.1 in the sport. Usman insists a fight between the two best in boxing and MMA has never happened before.
“When you have the pound-for-pound boxer on the planet at the moment where he’s going to stand there, he’s going to bang, he’s going to fight. He’s coming in there to hurt you,” Usman continued.
"Then you’ve got the pound-for-pound fighter on the planet around the same weight class that can actually do it and both be in their prime? You’ve never had that. “I’m brave enough to say, ‘F*** you, I’m coming in there and I’m going to come in there and give you hell as long as I’m able to do this.’”
