Canelo’s September Fight: Eubank Jr. in the Lead?

Chris Eubank Junior’s probabilities of getting picked by Canelo Alvarez for his combat in September are good as a result of Dana White selected to stage certainly one of his UFC occasions on September 14th, the Mexican Independence Day weekend.

London Calling for Canelo & Eubank Jr.?

Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) could elect to attend a number of weeks and combat Eubank Jr. (33-3, 24 KOs) in England in September. That’s a combat that might usher in lots of followers. It’s staged in London, the UK. It’s in all probability not a Wembley Stadium-level combat, but it surely sells many tickets for the world.

The opposite opponent that Canelo is contemplating for his subsequent combat is Edgar Berlanga, his WBA obligatory, and it could solely make sense to combat him if it might occur within the U.S. throughout a vacation on September 14th. Berlanga can be a nasty alternative for Canelo for different causes.

Followers don’t think about the 27-year-old extremely ranked Berlanga certified to compete for a world title. They wish to see him beat a minimum of one top-tier opponent earlier than getting a title shot, and he has not achieved that.

Berlanga: A Much less Interesting Possibility

“In case you don’t have the Mexican Independence Day choice over right here, you go to London,” mentioned Teddy Atlas to Probox TV about Canelo Alvarez doubtlessly going through Chris Eubank Jr. subsequent in September in London, England. “If you’d like the nice rivalry with Puerto Rican and Mexican followers, you go together with [Edgar] Berlanga.”

The 34-year-old Eubank Jr. (33-3, 24 KOs) hasn’t fought in a 12 months, and he’d have some ring rust on him going up towards Canelo in September, but it surely wouldn’t matter even when he have been energetic over the last 12 months. He’s not on the identical stage as Canelo talent-wise, and it’ll be a mismatch regardless.

“With the mix of the UFC happening Mexican Independence Day weekend, it could push Canelo out of Las Vegas,” mentioned boxing professional Paulie Malignaggi. “In that state of affairs, it could push the Berlanga combat away.”

Berlanga’s New York followers gained’t be joyful that he’s not getting the combat, however once more, he doesn’t price the combat, and it wouldn’t be good for Canelo to cope with the backlash from selecting him.

Whereas Canelo is busy combating Eubank Jr, maybe Berlanga’s promoter Eddie Hearn can match towards somebody good to present him some credibility, like Caleb Plant, Jaime Munguia, David Benavidez, Christian Mbilli or David Morrell Jr.

“In case you combat in america, Berlanga is the extra viable opponent. He’s extra standard,” mentioned Malignaggi. “Eubank doesn’t have lots of reputation within the U.S. In case you go to Europe, you combat Eubank in England.  I might see that risk opening up, and I might see the place he’s going with this.”

There are few choices for Canelo’s combat in September until he needs to incorporate a number of the fighters within the 160-lb weight class. On condition that Eubank Jr. can be shifting up from 160, Canelo might take a look at different fighters from that weight class, and followers wouldn’t complain.

“England would like to have a Canelo Alvarez. To me, these boxing followers are one of the best on this planet,” mentioned Malignaggi. “Even when he have been combating their native man, clearly, they’d root for Eubank, however they’d nonetheless be privileged and in awe to have certainly one of boxing’s stars select their place to combat.”

London can be a superb place for Canelo to combat, and there can be lots of buzz across the occasion if it’s staged there. Eubank Jr. is clearly on the draw back of his profession, however followers nonetheless would wish to see the combat if he’s combating Canelo.

Dana White’s Affect on Canelo’s Schedule

“Dana White sits for no person. Canelo sits for him. In case you take a look at the UFC schedule, they’re doing that once more in September [for Mexican Independence Day], you may see Canelo taking his act on the highway to England, the place he would clearly be welcomed with open arms. The English love their boxing and their celebrity fighters,” mentioned Malignaggi.

Canelo should get used to White staging his occasions on Mexican holidays within the U.S. to make the most of the followers who would tune in. If Canelo have been combating somebody standard like David Benavidez, he wouldn’t must abandon his date in September, but when he have been to combat Berlanga, who is simply standard in sections of New York Metropolis, it wouldn’t work.