Canelo Alvarez's long-held goal to become undisputed champion boxer is now further away than ever, since he won his third 168-pound title last May.Caleb Plant, the top boxing star, was close to signing a deal with Caleb Plant in Las Vegas on Sept. 18. This was a PBC on Fox pay per-view. The pact had been in the making for weeks. Multiple sources confirmed to ESPN that talks broke down over disagreements in the contract at the eleventh hour. Sources said that the contract was discussed between Canelo's Team and Al Haymon, Premier Boxing Champions, over the weekend. However, after numerous edit requests, the agreement collapsed.Sources said that talks could be reopened, but it is not clear if Canelo will fight in Mexico on the Independence Day weekend, as he has done. Sources said that if he decides to move on from the fight with Plant (who holds the super middleweight title), another option is a return at 175 pounds for a title match with Russia's Dmitry Bivol.Sources said that Alvarez's team requested a rematch clause. Plant and PBC were open to concessions.After Canelo's May TKO win over Billy Joe Saunders, Canelo's deal with Matchroom's Eddie Hearn ended. This left Alvarez free to negotiate a one-fight deal for Haymon's team. It would have been a lucrative deal that would have given him a career-high payoff. Sources claimed that the Mexican would be guaranteed upwards of $40million for a fight presented by Canelo Promotions.Alvarez (56-1-1, 38 KOs), said "I'm coming," in the ring following the fracture of Saunders' orbital bone. This was a cold warning to Plant.Eddy Reynoso, Alvarez’s reigning trainer, was able to negotiate the deal. It would have marked Alvarez’s return to pay per view, which he has headlined nine times since his fight against Shane Mosley in 2012. These bouts include a massive fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2013 as well as a pair with Gennadiy Gorlovkin, his bitter rival.Alvarez could now return to DAZN, which has streamed six of his fights starting with the December 2018 victory over Rocky Fielding.Alvarez and DAZN teamed up on an 11-fight, $365m deal following the September 2018 rematch against GGG. After just three fights, Alvarez and DAZN were involved in a legal dispute. Alvarez was made a promotional and network agent after the spat was resolved. Hearn promoted his three previous fights on DAZN.According to sources, Canelo's transfer to Fox would have been a major coup for Haymon. His three-year contract with Fox expires in the latter part of this year. However, there is a network option for a fourth. Alvarez-Plant would have been in between two major PPV fights, Manny Pacquiao - Errol Spence Jr. (Fox), and Tyson Fury - Deontay Wilder (ESPN+/Fox).There was every reason to believe Alvarez would join PBC for multiple fights. Canelo is ESPN's No. 1 boxer at 168lbs. Haymon is the top super middleweight and offers the most competitive opponents. Jermall Charlo is the unbeaten, brazen-talking champion of middleweight who long sought a meeting with Alvarez.Haymon also advises David Benavidez (the former 168-pound titleholder), who many industry professionals believe will be the most difficult challenge to Alvarez due to his unstoppable volume punching and large size. Don't rule out a fight with Spence in the future. He is currently a campaigner at 147 pounds, but he has a big frame and he expects to be up to 154 next year.Alvarez will be attempting to find an opponent for Sept. 18. This could mean returning to Plant or finding another opponent. Alvarez actually had already started preparations for Plant (21-0 and 12 KOs), at his San Diego gym. Alvarez has traditionally had two dates: Cinco de Mayo weekend and Mexican Independence Day weekend. He also fought in December and won a decision over Callum Smith to win the unified 168-pound title. In February, however, he was busy with a third round TKO of AvniYildirim. Alvarez will fight on Sept. 18. It will be his fourth fight in nine month. Canelo was one of the few superstar boxers who competed only twice per year.Canelo is ESPN's number one boxer. 1 pound-for-pound boxer. He won titles at 154, 160 and 175 pounds and has won every fight since the draw with GGG in 2018.Alvarez, regardless of who he fights is a box office bonanza. However, he hasn’t been able flex his proverbial muscles on PPV for three years. Although his last three fights were available on pay-per view, it wasn't a significant revenue driver as they were only part of a monthly DAZN subscription.Canelo's fights against Golovkin and Canelo's bout with Golovkin each generated over 1 million PPV purchases; Floyd Mayweather's 2013 matchup surpassed 2 million.Although Plant isn't as well-known than either of these stars, there are reasons to believe that he could be a viable commercial foil for Alvarez. The 29-year old has been featured on Fox for three fights consecutively and doesn't hesitate to brag about his talent and dedication. The Nashville native is a self-confessed gym rat and has one of the best jabs in boxing. Plant is 6-foot-1 and has 168-pounds. He is also lightning fast. Plant has not had the opportunity to compete against top-flight opponents. Jose Uzcategui was Plant's best opponent in his title-winning campaign. He has also had hand problems, even in his latest victory.Plant would have risen several ranks in class if he had won the fight with Alvarez. Sources said that he was also set to receive a record-breaking payday. It would have been worth more than $10million. Plant hasn’t been tested but he looks the part in every fight and is rated No. Plant is rated No. 3 by ESPN at 162 pounds. Plant is confident ahead of this career-defining night.Plant stated in May that "he's looked human at some of these larger fights." He's been fighting U.K.-level men and that's great, but as far he fighting the top -- Floyd Mayweather Erislandy Lara and GennadyGolovkin [twice] -- it's a 1-3 record. Alvarez actually has a record of 3-1 in these fights. However, the draw with GGG was disputed and Lara's win was won.Plant may not be able to prove Alvarez as a man, but he might.
