The queue for Canelo is increasing
What fights should Saul Canelo Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs) take next to continue to leave a legacy in boxing?
After making history against Caleb Plant on November 6, 2021, boxing's first ever undisputed super-middleweight world champion is now looking at other ways to secure his legacy.
And the contenders are lining up.
A fight against unbeaten WBC and IBF light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 15KOs) would allow the boxing superstar to continue to dare to be great and knock out another goal by becoming a unified world champion at 175lbs. It would go one better than when he won the WBO belt from Sergey Kovalev at light-heavyweight in 2019.
David Benavidez (24-0, 21KOs) is back in action this weekend and many would like to see the undefeated two-time world champion challenge Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. At 6-foot-1 with 74 inches of reach and more than a healthy mean streak intact, Benavidez would throw everything with bad intentions and bring the fight to the boxing superstar.
Plus, Benavidez is an undefeated former two-time WBC super-middleweight champion who has beaten himself due to past indiscretions only — never by the hands of a foe in the ring.
However, as much as boxing fans and critics alike clamour for the clash to happen, it’s foreseeable that Canelo will move in a different direction in his continued pursuit toward daring to be greater and making history.
And that trajectory is up and onward. Given Canelo’s recent history, that move would be to move back up to light heavyweight toward a clash with IBF/WBC unified world champion Artur Beterbiev to reassert his presence at 175 pounds and gain a share of the division’s hardware instantly. WBO beltholder Joe Smith Jr. (27-3, 21KOs) is also likely to be on his radar in the near future too.
As mouthwatering of a proposal as Canelo-Benavidez is, Alvarez doesn’t have anything to gain from it as far as his chase for history goes. Ditto for a trilogy fight against heated rival Gennadiy Golovkin and even inviting unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. up for a catchweight fight. All attractive names in the marquee, all adding fighting stripes to Canelo’s already glowing lore — but none satisfying his level up toward continued history with hardware to show for it.
Look at Canelo’s track record dating back to September 2017 — he only takes fights where there’s something for him to gain toward history. (Save for a mandatory defense against an outmatched Avni Yildirim this past February).
September 2017: Gennadiy Golovkin I
Draw for the WBA (Super), WBC, and IBF middleweight titles
September 2018: Gennadiy Golovkin II
Majority decision to become the WBA (Super), WBC, and IBF middleweight champion
December 2018: Rocky Fielding
Third-round TKO to become a three-division world champion
May 2019: Daniel Jacobs
Unanimous decision to add IBF middleweight championship to his own WBA (Super) and WBC titles
November 2019: Sergey Kovalev
11th-round KO to become a WBO light heavyweight titleholder and four-division world champion
December 2020: Callum Smith
Unanimous decision to take WBA (Super) and vacant WBC super-middleweight titles
May 2021: Billy Joe Saunders
7th round KO to add WBO super middleweight title to his collection
November 2021: Caleb Plant
11-round KO to become first ever undisputed 168-pound champion in history
As great as a fight with the likes of a Benavidez, GGG, Spence, or Jermall Charlo would be on paper, none would have the prerequisite that Canelo needs — a chance to continue adding chapters to his legend.
Fighting and defeating Beterbiev, who doesn’t have the star power of any of the aforementioned names, would put Canelo halfway toward achieving an undisputed crown at light heavyweight. Roy Jones Jr. did it during the three-belt era. Canelo could make it happen in the four-belt era.
With Beterbiev defending his titles against Marcus Browne on Dec. 17, if successful, he’d be on a similar schedule to Canelo.
The fight timing-wise for Cinco de Mayo weekend would make sense. And if Canelo defeats Beterbiev, the race to clash with WBO titleholder Joe Smith Jr. and WBA champion Dmitry Bivol would be on.
But his history and how he does things his way only point to eyeing full domination at 175 and raising his legend another level up.
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