AROUND There are two months left until Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring in one of his favorite months. Canelo has become synonymous with September over the years, a month that is almost exclusively reserved for boxing’s biggest star and is the date of Mexican Independence Day – when all Mexicans can celebrate their heritage by watching their hero destroy a weaker opponent (in most cases).
But this year, there seems to be a problem with choosing the right opponent. Canelo has so much power in boxing that choosing who he wants to fight is like a childhood game of duck, duck, goose. It doesn’t matter if he chooses the slowest or fastest person in the circle, most will be cheering him on as he takes his victory lap.
A few years ago, Canelo played the game like he wanted a challenge. He chose the toughest opponent available and risked the possibility of escaping reality.
He became the undisputed 168-pound heavyweight, defeating previously undefeated and highly rated opponents like Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant. Canelo’s Hall of Fame legacy was now complete. This achievement, combined with all the other world titles he had won, etched his name alongside the great Mexican fighters who came before him.
Canelo also deserves credit for his activity. Typically, a cash cow fights once a year. However, Canelo has fought at least twice a year since his debut in 2005, apart from 2020 during the COVID crisis, when he fought once.
But the decision to fight Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 for the WBA delicate heavyweight title was like picking on a kid who was two years older in school. He’s too large and knows more than you, which is why Canelo was defeated by Bivol in dominant fashion.
Dmitry Bivol attacks Saul “Camelo” Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena on May 7, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
But as of September 2022, the Mexican superstar is seemingly staying away from the real contenders. The ones you’re not sure you can beat. The ones who will chase you until you sit back down.
Gennady Golovkin is long past the peak of his form in the trilogy with Canelo, so the legendary Kazakh could have trouble playing “duck, duck, goose”, let alone fighting the strongest rival.
John Ryder earned a mandatory shot at Canelo in May 2023. However, the event was billed as a hopeful homecoming, not a stern world title defense. Ryder was brave and gave it his all, but Canelo was not seen as a threat before or during the fight.
Jermell Charlo moved up two weight classes in a fight that looked decent on paper. However, the “smaller” Charlo showed his true colors by trying to last 12 rounds rather than trying to win.
Munguia, in fairness, did indeed dethrone his idyllic compatriot and beat Ryder more convincingly than Canelo, earning him a shot at the top spot. But then again, Munguia was always going to be an unlikely winner.
The problem with Canelo’s game of duck, duck, goose is that he’s running out of average opponents to choose from. David Benavidez and David Morrell, Canelo’s two most worthy opponents, can’t even sit in the circle. They’re somewhere else on the playground, looking for ways to get an opening.
Other names linked to Canelo include Edgar Berlanga and Jermall Charlo. Berlanga is hungry but raw, while Charlo is talented but incredibly inactive.
Meanwhile, Chris Eubank Jr. has emerged as a tardy favourite to fight Canelo. Eubank would be a significant underdog against Canelo. Still, from a commercial perspective, it makes sense. Whether you like him or not, Eubank is a large name in the UK. So Canelo-Eubank could attract a bigger audience in England, especially on the off chance that it happens on British soil.
In miniature, Canelo, as the biggest moneymaker in boxing, will ultimately choose who he fights next, whether the fans agree with that decision or not.
The only man who could have an impact is His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh. Turki has openly stated that he wants to make Canelo vs. Terence Crawford a fight that few thought would ever happen. But if Crawford defeats Israil Madrimov on August 3rd to win the 154-pound world title, a fantasy fight could be getting closer.
Moreover, given the astronomical sums at stake in Saudi Arabia, there may be enough financial incentive to encourage Canelo to take on more risk at this later stage of his career. The four-division world champion has previously stated that he would need between $150 million and $200 million to fight Benavidez.
Well, Tyson Fury has finally agreed to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title, so anything is possible now.
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