Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez is no longer undisputed super-middleweight champion.
The elite Mexican entered the 168 ranks in December of 2020, winning two world titles – the WBC and WBA – at the first point of asking by beating Callum Smith over the distance.
After a routine defence against Avni Yildrim, Alvarez added a third strap to his collection, the WBO, when he forced Billy Joe Saunders to retire in the eighth round of their fight in May, 2021.
He became undisputed in November that year by stopping Caleb Plant in the eleventh round for the IBF title and defended that four-belt status four times against Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo and Jaime Munguia.
The IBF was the last piece of the puzzle but the first one to go. The sanctioning body stripped the 34-year-old last month due to not fulfilling his mandatory obligations against number one contender, William Scull.
Now on a press run for his defence against the WBA’s top challenger, Edgar Berlanga, Canelo has addressed losing the belt in an interview with Million Dollaz Worth of Game.
“There are levels. There are stars and there are superstars. They make the championship, not the championship makes them. Who is William Scull? I never hear about him. I’m not gonna do whatever they want. I’m gonna do whatever I want. Because I deserve it, because of all I have done.”
This attitude translates into his matchmaking. He picked the undefeated Berlanga over WBC’s number one contender David Benavidez – the man who undoubtedly deserves a shot the most. Whether or not that fight happens further down the line remains to be seen, but it seems further away than ever given Benavidez’ decision to campaign at light-heavyweight moving forward.
Canelo faces Berlanga, reigniting a Mexico-Puerto Rico fighting rivalry, on September 14 in Las Vegas.
