Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that only two fighters from Matchroom Boxing are being considered as possible opponents for Canelo Alvarez’s next fight in September: Edgar Berlanga and Dmitry Bivol. Hearn believes that if Canelo doesn’t face David Benavidez or Terence Crawford next, Berlanga, the WBA super middleweight mandatory challenger with a record of 22-0 and 17 KOs, could be a good choice. Hearn signed Berlanga last year and had him fight against two lower-level UK fighters since then. Some think that Hearn might have been cautious with Berlanga after his tough win over Jason Quigley.
In terms of potential opponents for Canelo, Hearn mentioned that the only two fighters under contract with Matchroom are Berlanga and Bivol. However, Bivol is currently waiting for a light heavyweight unification fight against Artur Beterbiev in the future. Even if Bivol were available, Canelo probably wouldn’t fight him again after their previous bout in 2022.
Hearn stressed Canelo’s interest in lucrative and motivating fights, saying that the Mexican star has already achieved many accomplishments and titles and now wants fights that inspire him and offer significant financial rewards. Hearn talked about a possible $200 million offer for a fight with Benavidez, acknowledging that aiming for such high sums could open up unexpected opportunities.
Concerning Edgar Berlanga as a potential opponent for Canelo, Hearn mentioned that while the fight isn’t confirmed yet, Berlanga being the mandatory challenger for Canelo means a showdown could be in the cards. Hearn suggested that Berlanga could improve his chances of facing Canelo by taking on Caleb Plant first, but Berlanga seems intent on waiting for Canelo’s decision.
While acknowledging that there are bigger fights out there for Canelo, Hearn highlighted Berlanga’s potential as a young, powerful boxer who could present an intriguing challenge. Despite his lack of top-tier competition so far, Hearn sees Berlanga as a credible option if more significant fights don’t materialize.
