Recent news reveals that Canelo Alvarez is set to defend his impressive collection of super middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during Mexican Independence Day weekend. This announcement has faced backlash with many questioning Berlanga’s suitability for this opportunity. Even fans in the UK, including myself, are not enthusiastic about staying up late to watch this match. The undercard may offer more engaging fights like Erislandy Lara vs. Danny Garcia, though some believe this matchup is past its prime.
Berlanga, boasting a 22-0 record, initially gained attention but has struggled to maintain his early success. Despite being dropped from Top Rank, Eddie Hearn quickly signed Berlanga with hopes of setting up a potential fight with Canelo. However, critics argue that Berlanga, like other contenders, lacks the necessary credentials to challenge Canelo. With other possible opponents like David Benavidez and David Morrell moving up weight divisions, Canelo’s choices for his next opponent are limited. Currently, the most deserving contender appears to be Christian Mbilli, who is making waves in Canada.
Furthermore, Canelo’s hesitance to face certain fighters, such as Benavidez, has led to speculation about his future matchups and a potential decline in popularity. Despite Berlanga’s upcoming bout with Canelo, many doubt his ability to truly threaten Canelo, given the latter’s vast experience and skill. This places pressure on Canelo to deliver an exciting performance and uphold his status as one of the world’s top boxers.
