It’s that ‘Who will Canelo fight next?’ time again, the Saul Alvarez sweepstakes that occur twice a year when the biggest attraction in the sport readies himself to announce his next move.
The current favourites to face Alvarez on September 14 – Mexican Independence Day weekend – are Edgar Berlanga and Chris Eubank Jr.
Unfortunately for nearly every single boxing fan, the name of David Benavidez is not among those who are leading the way. Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight when he defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June but subsequently informed the WBC that he planned to return to super middleweight, where he is that sanctioning body’s mandatory contender, and trigger his right for a bout with Alvarez.
However, before everyone screams that Saul, 61-2-2 (39 KOs), is avoiding his closest rival it should be noted that Benavidez is currently nursing several injuries and will not be fit by September, anyway.
Berlanga, 22-0 (17 KOs), is the WBA mandatory after beating Padraig McCrory in a final eliminator in February. Aside from that somewhat generous ranking, Berlanga is Puerto Rican and thus likely deemed an easy sell as an opponent for the Mexican superstar.
Eubank, 33-3 (24 KOs), has done precisely nothing to warrant a title shot in the 168 class. Junior is adept at selling a fight, however, and remains one of the most marketable boxers in Britain.
The last time the 34-year-old fought in the super middleweight division was in February 2019 when he outpointed a faded James DeGale. Though he has long wanted to fight Canelo, he has also admitted several times that middleweight is his natural habitat.
The Briton has been inactive since beating Liam Smith in September last year. That 10th round stoppage victory avenged a surprise fourth-round defeat that occurred eight months before.
Once all details are finalized, Canelo versus Someone will likely be broadcast by Amazon Prime PPV.
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