Canelo Alvarez is scheduled to defend his super middleweight championship against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Alvarez is expected to be a heavy favorite against Berlanga, who will be making his debut at the highest level of competition.
Critics have voiced their disappointment with Alvarez’s choice of opponent, as many were hoping for a more thrilling bout against David Benavidez. Speculation has also arisen that Canelo might face Jake Paul next, suggesting he may no longer be interested in taking on high-risk fights.
The announcement of Canelo Alvarez’s upcoming fight against Edgar Berlanga has sparked a wave of criticism and disappointment among fans. Some have accused Alvarez of avoiding challenging opponents, with one comment stating, “Canelo clearly doesn’t want the smoke anymore. The two elite fighters he fought broke him off badly.” The commentor is referring to Alvarez’s losses to Dmitry Bivol and Floyd Mayweather.
Another fan labeled the matchup as “awful,” opting to watch the UFC 306 pay-per-view event instead, which will run concurrently at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Critics also expressed unfamiliarity with Berlanga, with one stating, “I genuinely have never heard the name Edgar Berlanga in my entire life.”
While some predict an easy win for Alvarez, others argue that the fight does little for his legacy compared to a potential bout with David Benavidez. “Canelo by KO6,” one commenter predicted, adding, “There’s no way this fight earns more money or does more for his legacy than a bout with Benavidez would do.”
Fans have also called out Alvarez for not pursuing higher-profile opponents like David Benavidez, Terence Crawford, Dmitry Bivol, or Artur Beterbiev.
Shame on you, Canelo,” one critic remarked. “You won’t fight David, you won’t fight Crawford, rematch Bivol or pursue Beterbiev…but you’ll fight Berlanga, who’s barely a prospect. He’s not even a real contender, man.”
In another reaction to the matchup, a fan predicted the Mexican star may end up in the ring with Jake Paul, writing: “At this point Canelo is gonna end up fighting Jake Paul next year.
Paul has called out Canelo on several occasions but so far, Alvarez has dismissed the fight. After his win against journey Ryan Bourland, Paul made another bid to fight the super-middleweight champion.
“Canelo, stop ducking. I know you want it. I’m repping Puerto Rico, you’re repping Mexico, so it’s Puerto Rico vs Mexico. I want Canelo. I want all the biggest names. Like I said, I’m the face of this sport. Truly, who’s doing more for boxing than me? I keep on proving myself time and time again.”
