Today marks the birthday of the boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez, who turns 34 as he prepares for his next fight in September. The contenders for this highly anticipated bout could potentially be Chris Eubank Jr. or Edgar Berlanga. Canelo has had an eventful year, securing impressive decision victories over Jaime Munguia and Jermell Charlo, solidifying his position as the undisputed super middleweight champion.
The question now is which fighter will seize the opportunity to face Canelo in September, securing a life-changing payday. British fighter Eubank Jr. has been mentioned, but negotiations could prove challenging. Despite his 34 years of age, Eubank Jr. remains relatively unknown among U.S. casual boxing fans and is only one fight removed from a knockout loss to Liam Smith, a former Canelo opponent from 2016.
Edgar Berlanga is another name in the mix, though his candidacy isn’t much stronger. Berlanga has been carefully maneuvered by his former promoters at Top Rank and his current promoter, Matchroom, to avoid dangerous opponents. Although Berlanga boasts a nice record, his victories lack any notable names. Facing a fighter like David Benavidez, Jaime Munguia, or David Morrell would have made Berlanga a more respectable contender for Canelo's next bout.
If Canelo is to fight a contender not yet deserving of a title shot, better options than Berlanga and Eubank Jr. could include Christian Mbilli, Diego Pacheco, Hamzah Sheeraz (at a higher weight class), or a rematch with Caleb Plant. Fans would be particularly interested in seeing Canelo take on Mbilli or Sheeraz, both known for their aggressive fighting styles, which would promise an exciting match. These fighters would likely be easier to negotiate with and would face less public backlash compared to Berlanga, with his untested record, or the underperforming Eubank Jr.
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