Top Rank is kicking off 2020 with a light heavyweight matchup that could result in a future world title shot for the winner.
The company announced that former WBO light heavyweight champion Eleider Alvarez will face Michael Seals on January 18, 2020 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York on ESPN+. The fight will be for the vacant WBC Continental Americas title and winner could eventually put himself in a position to challenge for Artur Beterbiev's WBC and IBF world titles.
Alvarez shocked the world in August 2018 when he knocked out Sergey Kovalev in Atlantic City, New Jersey to win the WBO light heavyweight title. The two had a rematch this past February in Texas, but Kovalev dominated and outboxed Alvarez en route to a unanimous decision victory to win back the title. Since then, Alvarez was set to have a comeback fight in the summer, but he suffered a torn ligament in his foot during training camp.
Seals is a rising contender who sports a 24-2 pro record with 18 wins coming by knockout. Riding a four-fight win streak since a disqualification loss in 2018, Seals will be facing a former titlist for the second time in his career with the first win being a stoppage victory over Byron Mitchell in 2012.
The card will take place exactly one year after Top Rank held a show at the same venue. That show featured the likes of Jason Sosa and Carlos Adames competing in separate bouts as well as Shakur Stevenson starting his banner year by stopping Jessie Cris Rosales in four rounds. That event was headlined by Oscar Rivas' TKO victory over Bryant Jennings.
