Kamaru Usman has been backed by UFC legend Chael Sonnen to cause problems for Canelo Alvarez in a crossover boxing match.
The UFC welterweight champion has long been angling for a bout with pound-for-pound boxing great Alvarez, but has failed to gain traction with fans of either sport due to the perception of it being a major mismatch. Usman doesn't have the same star power and aura Conor McGregor did when he fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017, and has such has struggled to sell the possible fight.
But Sonnen believes that if he were able to make the bout happen, he would be able to cause Alvarez some major issues even in a boxing ring. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen recounted an experience of doing a drill with the Nigerian while commentating on an event recently that changed his mind on the contest.
"Henry Cejudo was with me, Henry and I were trying to learn this technique from Usman," Sonnen said. "Usman knocks my hand out of the way, full speed right on my jaw he stops his punch. He stops it. That's incredible control, to the point I'm talking about he made contact and he was able to stop it right on my whiskers, that's a different level of athleticism, it was so impressive I had to see it one more time.
"So it was three things, a total of three seconds and I'm exaggerating time. I knew everything I needed to know - Kamaru Usman can go with Canelo Alvarez. Who's a bigger hater on MMA in boxing than me? Who tells you MMA has no chance more than me? Kamaru Usman can go with Canelo Alvarez.
"Roy Nelson was too damn strong for me, Conor McGregor's fast - sometimes a second is all you need."
Would you watch a fight between Kamaru Usman and Canelo Alvarez? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
However, it appears Usman has moved on from the prospective bout, particularly after Alvarez's loss to Dmitry Bivol earlier this month. He will now focus his attentions on a rematch with Leon Edwards that is currently being touted for the UFC's August pay-per-view event.
"It's tough now because everyone is fixated on dominance," Usman told MMA Undergound. "I still think that it's a tremendous fight. It's a phenomenal fight because he's still up there in those pound-for-pound rankings, but of course it's a bit tarnished now because his aura of invincibility has diminished a bit. But more power to him, he's a true champion.
"He's one of the best boxers that we've seen especially in my generation. So hats off to him, it's always been nothing but respect, I was willing to test and challenge myself and he just wasn't biting."
Usman, for his part, has looked unbeatable during his time in the UFC. He lost once early in his professional career after switching from amateur wrestling, but has yet to taste defeat in the octagon against the likes of Colby Covington twice, Jorge Masvidal twice, Edwards, Gilbert Burns and Tyron Woodley.
