Former light heavyweight world titlist Eleider "Storm" Alvarez and big puncher Michael Seals will square off on Jan. 18 at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, Top Rank announced on Monday.
The scheduled 10-round bout will headline a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card (10 p.m. ET with preliminary bout streaming beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET).
While the fight is not an official elimination contest, the winner certainly will take a major step toward earning an opportunity to challenge unified titleholder Artur Beterbiev, who is also promoted by Top Rank, later in 2020.
"This is a fantastic fight, a true 50-50 matchup featuring two of the division's best punchers," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. "The light heavyweight division is on fire right now, and the winner will be in a tremendous position."
Alvarez (24-1, 12 KOs), 35, a Colombia native fighting out of Montreal, knocked out Sergey Kovalev in the seventh round of an upset to win a 175-pound world title in August 2018 before losing the belt to him by unanimous decision in an immediate rematch on Feb. 2.
Alvarez has not fought since the title loss in part because of a left foot injury.
"I am very happy to get back in the ring after this long layoff," Alvarez said. "I am looking at Jan. 18 to reboot my career against a strong puncher, Michael Seals, and begin my campaign to once again be on top of the boxing world. I have a lot of respect for my opponent, but in 2020, nothing will stop me from becoming a world champion again."
Alvarez, who is co-promoted by Yvon Michel, believes he can get back to the top and a win over "Cannon Handz" Seals would be a good start.
"Eleider had a great run before his last fight, beating three former or current world champions in a row: Lucian Bute, Jean Pascal and Sergey Kovalev," Michel said. "The defeat in his rematch with Kovalev was very painful, but also a great learning lesson. Eleider Alvarez belongs with the elite of the light heavyweight division, and he will prove it starting Jan. 18 in Verona."
Seals (24-2, 18 KOs), 37, of Mobile, Alabama, recently signed a promotional agreement with Top Rank and has scored highlight-reel knockouts in his previous two fights. He has won four fights in a row since second-round disqualification to Michael Gbenga for hitting on the break.
"Uncle Bob (Arum) and (Top Rank matchmaker) Brad Goodman are giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am going to put on a show for them," said Seals, a former college football player at Alabama A&M. "Everyone knows that going the distance is against my religion. I'm going to bring the heat, and that's no secret.
"Alvarez made a huge mistake in accepting me for his 'comeback fight.' When you sign a contract with me, I'm trying to force-feed you some ZzzQuil. This is a tune-up for him but everything for me. I'm not an opponent for the top fighters. I am a top fighter. I want a world title shot, and I won't let this guy get in the way. He had his time. It's my time."