The WBC has given their approval for Canelo Alvarez to move up from 168 to challenge WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu for his title next in 2022.
It’s a big move up in weight for the 5’7″ Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs), who last fought at 168 in becoming the undisputed champion on November 6th.
With that said, the 31-year-old Canelo is picking the right guy to capture a title at cruiserweight, considering Makabu (28-2, 25 KOs) is a badly flawed champion, and arguably the worst by far of the four belt-holders in the division.
The 34-year-old Makabu is known for his third round knockout loss to Tony Bellew in 2016, as well as having a record filled with obscure opposition. Some boxing fans view Makabu as having a padded record, filled with non-name opposition.
The dangerous champions at cruiserweight, Mairis Briedis, Larence Okolie, and Arsen Goulamirian would all likely be too big and too strong for Canelo. Hence, none of them were picked out by Canelo and his eagle-eyed trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso.
This is an incredibly disappointing pick by Canelo because boxing fans were hoping that he would face one of these talented fighters:
- David Benavidez
- Gennadiy Golovkin
- Artur Beterbiev – IBF & WBC 175-lb champion
- Dmitry Bivol – WBA 175-lb champion
- Jermall Charlo
Beterbiev would arguably be a much tougher fight for Canelo than taking on WBC cruiserweight champion Makabu, but that might be the sole reason the Mexican star chose NOT to fight the Russian knockout artist.
The former two-time Russian Olympian Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) might be too good for Canelo, so he chose to go after a softer target in Makabu.
Canelo started his career out at 140 in 2005, and he’s steadily moved up, going from division to division, capturing world titles as he’s gone. Lately, Canelo has sped up his ascension by going from 160, 168, and 175. Now, he’s decided to go to 200 and face Makabu.
If Canelo is successful in beating Makaku to grab his WBC cruiserweight title, it’ll make him a five-division world champion. That likely won’t be the end for Canelo in grabbing division titles, as he’s likely to go up to Bridgerweight [224] to challenge Oscar Rivas for his WBC title.
Is this why Canelo wants to fight Makabu?
Like Makabu, Rivas is a vulnerable champion and nothing special. That’s potentially s winnable fight for Canelo if he chooses to go that high in weight, but he’ll be risking his career if he bulks up to compete in that weight class.
Canelo to compete at Bridgerweight, would need to be in the 220s, and taking that weight off will be hard on his body.
We saw what happened with Roy Jones Jr. when he bulked up to heavyweight to beat the vulnerable WBA champion John Ruiz in 2003.
After beating Ruiz, Roy Jones Jr. returned to the 175-lb division and was soon knocked out by Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson in consecutive fights. Jones’ career was never the same after that.
“The WBC has approved unanimously Canelo Alvarez to fight for the WBC cruiserweight championship of the world,” said WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman on Tuesday at the sanctioning body’s convention in Mexican.
“This is a very, very big surprise to me, but I’m sure he [Canelo] will continue to make history. Congratulations,” said Sulaiman.
Super middleweight | Crusierweight
We just approved the challenge between @Canelo and Makabu in Cruiserweight 🥊 pic.twitter.com/fKmz0rWx7z
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) November 16, 2021
It’s unfortunate that Canelo doesn’t want to give the boxing public a high-profile fight against someone that they’d be more interested in seeing him fight.
The fans have been patient for the last three years, waiting for Canelo to finish becoming the undisputed champion at super middleweight by beating the three British fighters Billy Joe Saunders, Rocky Fielding & Callum Smith, and then defeating Caleb Plant to win his fourth belt.
Cruiserweight 🥊
Alvarez will aim to become world champion in a fifth weight class! #WBCMX59 pic.twitter.com/c9xADjKpYd
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) November 16, 2021
So what if people don’t like it canelo, Fight cruiser weight and attempt to get the belt. You aren’t hurting anyone. Making history your way.
Tyson does not have to fight anyone he doesn’t want to, and Dillian Whyte isn’t going to get a title shot with fury , he could have with Deontay Wilder but now it’s too late. Just be patient and these businessman will.die.of old.age,.then perhaps we.will.see the best fight the best. Until then 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 ducking season for all good fighters. Only really bad fighters with set up contractual agreements will meet Canelo or fury.
I think you and Andy Ruiz can take Deontay Wilder. Deontay Wilder can’t fight, did you see fury kick Deontay Wilders arse? In the middle of the ring, fair and square, from pillar to post, every day of the week and twice on Sunday. We think you can take him in the eleven hour, but who am I? Who am I?
Canelo aught to challenge Deontay Wilder at cruiser weight, he can use the same cheating tactics fury did over and over again.
Fight is European countries are in avoidance of the Benavides’s of the world. And there’s plenty more competition right here , canelo doesn’t have to go to the Congo, to Columbia, and to wherever. It’s just down the street, right here, of course Canelo knows that.
The best fighters are in the Americas. That’s why canelo Alvarez chooses to fight with Europeans, fighters from the Congo and Colombia. He doesn’t have to go far or move up in any weight divisions to meet stiff competition. He does so to avoid those difficult competitors.
These antic’s come of no surprise. It’s not surprising to see these circus like promotions. From phoney fury’s pretending he is a good fighter all while not having padding in his gloves and everybody openly knowing it. And encouraging it is insured.” Idiotic incredibly long counts , allowing everything from failed steroid tests to eggweight loaded gloves is comical. And virtually every sport’s news caster and all fans are going along with it.
Hiding evidence of glove tampering, bribes and payoffs. You’ve all gone mad.