Canelo’s possible opponents after beating Jermell Charlo
The Mexican superstar was very confident in defeating Charlo on Saturday and he did so by showing a solid performance in Las Vegas.
Canelo Álvarez is back. Or at least that’s what it seemed on Saturday night. The Mexican warrior outpointed Jermell Charlo for a wide unanimous decision win (119-108, 118-109, 118-109) at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
The Guadalajara native, who remains the undisputed super middleweight king, pretty much dominated the fight from the initial bell, even scoring a knockdown in the seventh round.
Álvarez was the favorite to get his hand raised, as Charlo hadn’t fought since May 2022 and had to go up from 154 to 168 lbs to be able to challenge him.
“Nobody can beat this Canelo. We know he’s a great fighter. He knows how to move in the ring. We worked on attacking the body for three months. For three months in the mountains without my family, without everything”, Álvarez said after getting the win.
Canelo’s next possible opponents
Eddy Reynoso’s pupil had been criticized in recent times due to his latest performances inside the ring, where boxing gand and experts didn’t see Canelo’s best version.
While some said the Mexican was declining and past his prime, he proved he still can deal with the very best fighters in the world.
Canelo, who looked better against Charlo than he did against Ryder, Golovkin, Bivol, and Plant, will now have to choose who his next opponent will be.
He signed a multi-millionaire three-fight deal with PBC Promotions some months ago and after his bout with Mell, he’s supposed to face another two boxers.
David Benavidez is probably the name most fans and pundits are thinking of. The Mexican Monster is the favorite to be Canelo’s next challenge, as he is young and hungry and possesses a fighting style that could give Álvarez issues.
Besides being tall and long for the division, he’s very aggressive and he likes to pressure his rivals, just like Canelo, so they would likely put on a full-packed action show if they finally met.
The other name everybody is talking about is no other than Terence Crawford. The American is considered to be one of the best boxers in recent history and he’s undefeated.
Moreover, Bud proved his brilliance against a top boxer like Errol Spence Jr. and after becoming the only fighter ever to become an undisputed champion in two different weight divisions, he wants to keep making history.
However, if Crawford wants to face Canelo, he will have to move up three weight categories, one more than what Charlo did to meet the Mexican.
Demetrius Andrade is certainly another interesting name. The Rhode Island-bred talent is undefeated in 30 fights and is regarded as one of the most difficult boxers to fight due to his slickness and movement.
Two years ago he crashed Canelo’s post-fight conference, asking the champ for a fight, but he got a “get the f—k out of here” answer.
However, everything could change soon. Although Benavidez and Crawford seem the more attractive options, Boo Boo could have his chance if he manages to defeat Benavidez this fall. The winner of that fight will be in the pole position for a super showdown with Canelo.