SHOULD CANELO VACATE HIS BELTS OR FIGHT THE BEST?
Paulie Malignaggi has called on Canelo Alvarez to vacate his super middleweight titles after the Mexican star chose not to fight his then-WBC mandatory, David Benavidez. Malignaggi's comments come as Canelo prepares to defend his WBA, WBC, and WBO belts against Edgar Berlanga on September 14, during the Mexican Independence Weekend. However, the fight has faced significant criticism, with many fans and experts arguing that a clash with Benavidez would have been a far more anticipated and meaningful bout.
Canelo was previously the undisputed super middleweight champion but chose to vacate his IBF belt after being ordered to face William Scull. This decision, along with his choice to fight Berlanga instead of Benavidez, has led to accusations that Canelo is avoiding the toughest competition in the division.
Malignaggi was vocal about his discontent, stating, “I don’t care who Canelo fights if he would vacate his [168-lb] titles. I’ve been saying this for two years. I think Benavidez runs him over like a train, like a car stuck on the train tracks.” Malignaggi believes that Canelo's reluctance to face his mandatory challengers only strengthens the case that he is avoiding Benavidez.
There are other worthy opponents that Canelo could have considered, such as Christian Mbilli and David Morrell Jr. Mbilli, with an impressive record of 28-0 and 23 knockouts, has been eager to face Canelo after his victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Morrell Jr., a Cuban knockout artist with an 11-0 record and nine knockouts, is another potential challenger who could have provided a more competitive fight.
Malignaggi also criticized the idea of a potential fight between Canelo and Terence Crawford. While Crawford has expressed interest in moving up to face Canelo, Malignaggi is not convinced that Crawford, who has just become the WBA champion at 154 pounds, would be able to handle the jump to 168 pounds. Canelo’s recent fight with Jermell Charlo, who moved up from 154 to face him, serves as a cautionary tale, with Charlo unable to match Canelo’s power and skill.
In Malignaggi’s view, Canelo is looking for "easy pickings" in the latter stages of his career, prioritizing lucrative paydays over challenging himself against the best in the division. “Canelo is looking for easy pickings for later in his career... I think he would possibly consider Crawford, but he wants a crazy amount of money,” Malignaggi added.
As Canelo prepares to face Berlanga, the criticism surrounding his choice of opponents continues to grow. Whether Canelo will eventually take on the top names in the division or continue on his current path remains to be seen.
#CaneloAlvarez #PaulieMalignaggi #DavidBenavidez #EdgarBerlanga #Boxing #SuperMiddleweight #ChristianMbilli #DavidMorrellJr #TerenceCrawford #WilliamScull #MexicanIndependenceDay #BoxingNews #WBC #WBA #WBO #BoxingWorld
