Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez is lining up an opponent for his ring return later this year.
The four-belt super-middleweight champion is coming off a routine points win over Jaime Munguia in May and will, if patterns persist, fight again in September.
Canelo recently struck a deal with IBF mandatory challenger William Scull that will see the Cuban wait his shot out, leaving the path open for a fight against a more well-known contender.
Enter the WBA’s Edgar Berlanga, who has long been in the running for the fight given his impressive record and fanbase from both Puerto Rico and New York. The bout would tick a mandatory challenge off of Canelo’s list, too.
A report from ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez then put Chris Eubank Jr in the picture, now confirmed by Dan Rafael. The Brit, who most recently beat Liam Smith in a middleweight rematch in September of last year, has long called for the Canelo bout but hasn’t done much in the 168 division to warrant it.
What will frustrate fans is that, once again, WBC number one contender David Benavidez is going unmentioned. With the strongest case for a crack at Canelo, Benavidez has campaigned loud and clear for the fight. His recent debut at light-heavyweight was even followed by an admission that he would drop back down to continue chasing it.
Canelo has said he will fight anyone if the money is right and has previously put a price tag of $150 -200 million on the Benavidez bout. Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh may just have to step in to make it happen, but he is also interested in giving formerly undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford a shot.
