KAMARU USMAN’S manager called Canelo Alvarez a ‘COWARD’ and said the UFC champion would knock out the boxer in three rounds.
Usman has long called out the Mexican boxing superstar, who is the sport’s current pound-for-pound best.
Kamaru Usman pictured with manager Ali Abdelaziz
Canelo Alvarez has been called out by UFC champion Kamaru Usman
But Ali Abdelaziz, who manages the UFC welterweight king, blasted Canelo for refusing to fight in the cage.
Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie: “I know he didn’t want to fight Jake Paul; he didn’t want to fight Logan Paul.
“He said I’m the pound-for-pound king in MMA, I want to fight the pound-for-pound coward in boxing because I think all these boxers are cowards because none of them want to come to MMA.
“They all want to come to boxing, but at the end of the day, in a street fight, who’s the baddest man on the planet?
“They cannot quote Canelo as the baddest man on the planet.
“They cannot quote Canelo the pound-for-pound best boxer because if they both in the street, who’s gonna win?
“Kamaru would beat his ass like he stole something.”
UFC fighters are prohibited from competing outside of the promotion unless given special exemption.
In 2017, Conor McGregor, 33, was allowed to do so to fight boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 45, but lost in ten rounds.
Usman, 34, eyes a similar bout with Canelo, 31, despite having the odds stacked against him.
But Abdelaziz, who also managed UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, 33, backed his man to cause the mother of all upsets – in quick fashion.
He said: “Kamaru will knock him out in three rounds. You cannot say no to Kamaru.
“He’s a guy who comes from Africa. He jumped a lot of obstacles. I believe in Kamaru. This is the difference between me and other people.
“I believe in him, I live with him, I breathe with him, I die with him, I fight with him. He’s a special person in my life.
“How many street fights have me and Kamaru been to? We’ve been in a lot of street fights, and I have to believe in him.
“I believe Kamaru can beat any man alive.”
