With the announcement of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s next fight now a matter of public record, the next step is to get his stablemate back in the ring before year’s end.

That very much remains the plan for Ryan Garcia, even if not in accordance with his latest public wish.

Efforts remain in place to reschedule Garcia's recently postponed interim title fight with England’s Luke Campbell (20-3, 16KOs). The two were due to fight December 5, live on DAZN from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, only for Campbell to have to withdraw due to contracting COVID-19.

Shortly thereafter came the rumors of Alvarez angling for a showdown with England’s Callum Smith, which—as BoxingScene.com previously reported—has been confirmed for December 19 at a location to be determined in Texas. García (20-0, 17KOs) was very much on board with giving up his main event status in order to fight on the same card as his stablemate, as both work with 2019 Trainer of the Year Eddy Reynoso.

“Down for it,” Victorville, California’s Garcia previously noted at an earlier suggestion of the two fights taking place on the same show. “TEXAS, ARE YOU DOWN FOR GARCIA VS CAMPBELL?”

Texas might have to wait.

“Firstly, that’s a decision for Canelo Alvarez and Eddy Reynoso,” Eddie Hearn, who promotes Campbell and Smith noted during a recent installment of The Ak & Barak Show on Sirius XM. “I can’t see—and I don’t want to speak out of turn it’s their decision—I can’t see Eddy Reynoso wanting Ryan Garcia on the same card as Canelo Alvarez as co-main event. Eddy and Canelo are almost inseparable. You can’t be under the pressure of training two fighters on the night. Canelo is in there getting his hands wrapped—“Oh wait a minute I have to go do this other fight.” It doesn’t work like that.

“It’s not my decision but I don’t see that. I see the Garcia-Luke Campbell fight going on a separate date.”

The December 19 show is presented by Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, who promotes Smith and is working with Alvarez for this fight. Garcia's fight with Campbell is under the promotional control of Golden Boy Promotions, who has García under a multi-year contract inked just last September. The California-based company has also recently severed ties with Alvarez, with the two sides going their separate ways following a weeks-long lawsuit which was recently dismissed with prejudice in accordance with all involved parties.

Golden Boy and Matchroom reached a deal earlier this fall, agreeing to all terms in avoiding a twice-scheduled purse bid hearing for the ordered interim lightweight title fight. The deal in place leaves the matter out of the hands of Hearn, other than in communication with Golden Boy for a new working date to reschedule the fight.

“Whether it’s the night before [Alvarez-Smith] or a week later… it’s a Golden Boy show,” clarified Hearn. “Someone messaged me earlier and asked ‘Where are you putting that fight?’ I’m not putting it anywhere. Golden Boy made us an offer. We accepted it and we will work with them to reschedule the fight.

“Unfortunately, Luke Campbell had (COVID-19). He’s back in training, he’s ready for the 18th, he’s ready for the 19th, he’s ready for the 26th, whatever the decision for where that will be. This fight is too big and too good to not reschedule. Ryan Garcia is desperate to fight in December and so is Luke Campbell. But this is the fight. There’s no other fight.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox