Canelo targets his next opponent: Who could Saul Alvarez fight in September?
As has happened over the last few years, Alvarez will return to the ring in the fall, but who will be his next opponent?
Saul Alvarez is looking for a fight and a new opponent. As it usually happens with the Mexican superstar, especially over the last few years, Canelo gets to fight in May and at the end of the year, normally between September and November.
The Guadalajara native’s last fight was against fellow countryman Jaime Munguia in May, a battle between two Mexican warriors that ended with the favorite Alvarez winning by unanimous decision.
While many expected him to look for a fight with the undefeated new star David Benavidez, Canelo preferred to look for other options instead. He was criticized for that, and after saying he would only take on ‘The Mexican Monster’ if offered $200 million.
Canelo recently agreed terms to fight IBF No. 1 contender William Scull next, but it seems the fight could not happen, at least not this year.
Who could Canelo Alvarez take on next?
According to the IBF, Scull is Alvarez’s mandatory fight at 168 pounds if the Mexican wants to keep his belt. But given the fans’ low interest in it, the fight could be postponed.
Rumor has it Scull could have signed a step-aside deal with the undisputed super middleweight king to allow Canelo to fight his WBA mandatory Edgar Berlanga next in September.
According to ESPN’s boxing journalist Salvador Rodriguez, Edgar Berlanga “has let his team know that they will have to get ready for Canelo” in September.
It looks like a short-term solution for Canelo, who will have a more attractive fight but will also be forced to take on Scull after that if he doesn’t want to be stripped of his IBF belt.
Canelo also knows that a clash with Berlanga would have a bigger impact in terms of money and PPV sales, especially in the New York area, where the undefeated fighter is quite popular.