Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez will return to the ring on September 14 to face Puerto Rico’s Edgar Berlanga.
Other than the long national rivalry at stake, the fight has been largely branded underwhelming by fans who wanted to see the Mexican – formerly undisputed but recently stripped of the IBF title – face David Benavidez.
Another man who has been chasing the fight with Canelo is Terence Crawford, who moves from welter to super-welterweight this weekend to face WBA Champion Israil Madrimov.
Asked about the Berlanga match-up in an interview with The Stomping Ground, ‘Bud’ Crawford predicted Canelo to score the 40th stoppage of his career.
“I think he stops Berlanga. I think Berlanga’s head is over his heels with this fight. He could be a great champion someday, I just think right now Canelo is too much for him.”
Should they both win their bouts, Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh has been clear that he will make Canelo an offer to face Crawford next. Asked if it was in the back of his mind before the Madrimov fight, he said no.
“Not really. I’m so focused on the job at hand that I’m not thinking about Canelo. Canelo got a fight, why would I be thinking about him?”
The jump to 154 this weekend not only offers the 36-year-old a chance to become a four-division champion but also a measuring stick as to how well he can bulk up.
A fight with Alvarez would require a further 14 pounds of weight, but it’s not something Crawford is stressing over.
“[I can do it] Cause skills pay the bills, and I got the skills to pay ’em.”
He faces the undefeated Madrimov this coming Saturday at the BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, broadcast live on DAZN PPV.
