Canelo Alvarez accomplished his goal last weekend to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion with his eleventh round knockout win over Caleb Plant.
Now that Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) has finally gotten this dreary goal completed, he’s got a big decision to make in choosing who to fight in his next contest in the first quarter of 2022.
When Canelo was trying to become the undisputed champion at 168, he had an excuse to fight lesser opposition because badly flawed belt-holders, Rocky Fielding, Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, and Callum Smith, had the titles that he needed for him to accomplish his goal.
Canelo no longer has an excuse to fight weaker fighters, and he’s going to have to decide whether to start taking risks again like he’d done in the past or choose to milk his four 168-lb belts by defending it.
Last week, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said that he’d like to see Canelo defend against his WBA mandatory John Ryder next in the U.K.
However, that’s not a fight that will interest American boxing fans, as they’ve already seen Canelo dominate the U.K. fighters Saunders, Fielding, and Callum Smith in the last three years.
Fans want to see Canelo take some real risks instead of continually picking the low-hanging fruit for easy money fights.
The fighters that boxing fans want Canelo to face next:
- David Benavidez
- Artur Beterbiev
- Jermall Charlo
- Demetrius Andrade
- Gennadiy Golovkin
- Joe Smith Jr.
- Errol Spence Jr.
- Jaron Ennis
Of that bunch, it’s safe to say that U.S. boxing fans overwhelmingly want to see Canelo show some courage by taking on the 24-year-old former two-time WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs).
The truth is, Benavidez is the fighter that Canelo should have fought rather than wasting the last three years of his career with his silly journey to become the undisputed champion at 168.
It would have meant something if the champions that Canelo has fought during the last three years were talented and popular, but they weren’t. You can argue that Fielding, Saunders, Callum, and Plant were paper champions.
Canelo would have gained a lot more traction with boxing fans during the last three years if he’d fought Benavidez three times and gotten the trilogy match against Golovkin out of the way.
Canelo would have likely made more money fighting Benavidez three times and facing Golovkin again than he made by fighting Fielding, Saunders, Callum, and Plant. Those were weak champions and not popular.
If Canelo is ready to show some courage, Benavidez is the obvious choice for his next fight. Benavidez is headlining this Saturday night on November 13th against replacement opponent Kyrone Davis (16-2-1, 6 KOs) in a 12 round fight on Showtime at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is a 10-round showcase fight for Benavidez, who was previously scheduled to face former IBF super middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui in a title eliminator. Uzcategui had to pull out of the fight due to an illness.
The second-best option for Canelo is IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs). This is a dangerous fight for Canelo because Beterbiev is an excellent inside fighter, and he’ll be looking to tear him apart.
Canelo’s trainer Eddie Reynoso will likely tell him NOT to fight Beterbiev because he’s all wrong for him, and it would be a massive shock to the Mexican star’s system to suddenly be fighting an outstanding fighter after blowing through the last three years of his career fighting paper champions at 168.
If Canelo wants to show that he’s not afraid of fighting the best, Beterbiev is the guy for him to fight. Canelo gains more credibility from fighting IBF/WBC 175-lb champion Beterbiev than anyone else, and it would give him a new goal of becoming the undisputed champ at light heavyweight.
Sad part is that none of the men on the list. Have the balls to fight each other. But they deserve a fight with canelo. What happened with proving and earning your spot to fight for the title. If they would fight each other, we as fans would benefit with great fight for the upcoming year.
Suck it up haters
He a p….y he won’t fight benavides or charlo get that out your head
Ggg aint got nothing for Canelo he got lucky he dint get crushed on the second fight,and I’m not a canelo fan I can’t stand him but on what I do agree with you is that he has to fight Benavides,charlo or some one like that to show what he got because the guys he won to be undesputed,were a sell out,I believe he paid them of.
“Badly flawed title holders” Wow biased start.
Did you said the same about that mediocre fighter from Las Vegas.
When you look at this list, minus GGG who has a case. Why haven’t they taken dangerous fights or even fight one another. As for GGG he has fought Canelo and deserves another shot due to the decisions rendered. The others are trying to talk themselves into a fight with Canelo because they are not willing to risk knocking down the door to fight one another.
In the end there is always going to be talk of, “well now fight him or this guy.” Canelo will always have one opponent or another where he’ll have to take risks while all these others will cruise and run their mouth why they deserve the crack at the Canelo lottery. Let the guy enjoy his latest win instead of all the talk of him ducking someone.
Not accurate at all..seems funny this was Mayweathers knock not fighting the best..lol but it’s quool if he does it. Lmbao.. he’s a Mexican Mayweather
I believe that Beterviek would be the most challenging for C.
The problem is Canelo has to go up to 175lb. which Bivol and Betterviek are naturals at.
Charlo at 160lb has to up to 168lb. And at that weight who knows?
Fight Benavides he is the champion. Stop ducking him ..
Man up and take on a real fighter!!! Ggg would still drop him, dont matter how old he’s getting
Do you realize how many times they have fought and this hasn’t happened, come on, wake up.
David Benavidez, Artur Beterbiev, Jermall Charlo, Demetrius Andrade and Joe Smith Jr. are the only guys that matter at this point.
Spence & Ennis have no reason to be considered ahead of these before mentioned whom a case can be made for. GGG I believe beat Canelo in their two fights, is 40yrs old this year, and the clock has ticked off on such a third fight; too late in the game now for that. Which is too bad, because he’s the only guy that man’d up and unloaded on Canelo.
Keep on dreaming Y’all, Canelo is the best pound for pound fighter in the world, suck it up !! Y’all said Plant would knock Canelo out , no way Jose!
Canelo should line up Jermall Charlo next, and Benevidez following that fight. No rocket science here. If you have a mandatory with some tomato can, give them that belt back, skip the mandatory; Canelo’s presence is bigger than some organization mandating he fight some stooge to keep their belt. At this point, just line up the best of the best.
Canelo, come back to America and fight the best.
Don’t be surprised if he fights thirty-seven-year-old Anthony Dirrell because he knows that guys like Charlo, Benevidez, and Beterbiev are dangerous and would likely kick his ass!!!