Might Canelo Abandon PBC Just to Avoid Benavidez & Morrell?
Reigning undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) is the talk of the boxing world right now. However, it’s not for reasons he would like. Buzz around boxing circles is that Canelo is leaving PBC to sidestep two-time WBC super middleweight champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) and reigning WBA Regular champion David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs).
Word on the street is that the Mexican superstar and PBC have amicably agreed to part ways, and Alvarez will return to Matchroom Promotions. Furthermore, he plans to fight Jaime Munguia and potentially Edgar Berlanga in 2024. In June 2023, Alvarez signed a three-fight deal with PBC.
Reaction to this developing situation has been harsh towards Alvarez by many in the boxing community. It’s understandable why.
HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE
Canelo is arguably the biggest name in the sport. A multi-divisional world champion, the 33-year-old is a future Hall of Famer. But over the past few years, Alvarez’s moves outside the ring have many in the boxing community frustrated and scratching their heads.
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Benavidez and Morrell have emerged as Alvarez’s top contenders at 168, and both are associated with PBC. Benavidez became the official mandatory challenger for Canelo in September 2023. But The Mexican Monster was calling for a fight with Canelo for all of 2023, only for the undisputed champion to act like he wasn’t worthy. Exasperated by their inability to make any headway with Canelo, Team Benavidez is moving on. It’s the same frustration for Morrell, who would love to face Alvarez.
PERCEPTION IS REALITY
Here’s the sobering truth. Something has changed in Canelo since a unanimous decision loss to reigning WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May 2022. Following that setback, his level of competition has been far from stellar. Alvarez has lost the desire to test himself.
There is a public demand for Canelo to face Morrell and especially Benavidez. Instead, he’s avoiding them like the plague. Is it mere irony that the swirling rumor of him leaving PBC is because they are his biggest threats at 168? Many observers would say ‘no’.
Potential fights with Munguia and Berlanga make sense financially, but that’s not who the public wants to see the super middleweight champion fight. It’s becoming clear that Alvarez would prefer to sidestep Benavidez and Morrell. It’s unacceptable on the part of Canelo and is a permanent stain on his legacy.
