A dissenting voice: ‘Canelo Alvarez has earned the right to choose his fights’

WIth Saul “Canelo” Alvarez set to defend his super middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, it seems everyone has become a critic of Alvarez’s approach to picking opponents and handling the closing act of his storied career.

Well, not everyone.

At 34, Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has spent the better part of his professional life climbing mountains and testing himself at new levels, and is the most recognizable and bankable active fighter in the world. Lately, however, he has been accused of coasting, or at least being too selective in the challenges he chooses – including the 27-year-old Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs), an opponent seemingly meant to cater to casual fans drawn by a Mexico-versus-Puerto Rico rivalry.

But trainer John Pullman, known for his work with fighters like featherweight Tugstsogt Nyambayar and heavyweight contender Gerald Washington, has a different take.

“Canelo is someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. He’s earned the right to choose his fights,” Pullman said. “I respect how he’s independent and doesn’t just bend to others because of money. He’s taken risky fights and even suffered losses, which only adds to his credibility.”

Pullman compared Alvarez’s career to that of Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Like Mayweather in his prime, Canelo built his reputation by fighting top opponents. Now he picks fights that make sense for him, even if they aren’t the highest-risk options. After all he’s accomplished, he’s earned that right.”

Regarding Berlanga’s chances on Saturday, Pullman was skeptical.

“I don’t see Berlanga having a clear path to victory,” he said. “He can punch, but outboxing Canelo is another story. Berlanga will need a knockout or multiple knockdowns to win. I have only seen Canelo hurt once, and that was years ago against Jose Miguel Cotto.”

For fans watching the fight, Pullman offered a key piece of advice: Don’t mistake activity for effectiveness.

“Just because someone is throwing punches doesn’t mean they’re winning,” Pullman said. “Berlanga might come out strong, but if his punches aren’t landing cleanly or are being blocked, it won’t matter. Canelo controls the pace and has excellent defense, so look for telling shots – like when someone’s head snaps back. Those are the punches that count, not just activity.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.