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Boxing
Three fights Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez must take on before he retires
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Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez put William Scull in his place this weekend to become a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion in Riyadh.
The Mexican has further enhanced his reputation with another triumph, albeit one of his lesser success stories, to keep himself atop the pile.
Scull arguably represented one of the biggest tests in recent times for the legendary pound-for-pound star, but arguably even bigger fish lay ahead.
A dance with Terence Crawford will finally come in September, and talk of Chris Eubank Jr. and David Benavidez is never far away from his name as well.
Here, DAZN News profiles the three dances Canelo must make before he hangs up his gloves for good.
Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Thanks to the efforts of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, it looks like we are getting Canelo against Terence Crawford in September, and what a fight this would be.
'Bud' is the first male boxer in history to become a two-weight undisputed champion in the ‘four-belt era’ and won his fourth world title at different weights by beating Israil Madrimov to claim the WBA light-middleweight crown in LA last year
Crawford 41-0 (31) has always had exceptional footwork and can box effectively from both orthodox and southpaw stances.
Although Crawford is known for his offensive prowess, his defence is also an integral part of his success in the ring.
Once upon a time there was a school of thought that Canelo struggled with southpaws, after laboured displays with Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara.
However, strong performances against lefties such as Daniel Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders and Miguel Cotto have shown he is more than capable of fighting, and beating, portsiders.
The American would be moving up in weight to meet Canelo, but it’s a myth that he would be the smaller man. Crawford has a longer reach than Canelo and a slight advantage in terms of height.
Setting aside the physical factors, Crawford’s mindset could be the biggest factor when it comes to him getting his hand raised in this fight.
Having never lost as a professional, he has that swaggering self belief that all great champions have and as Samuel Johnson once mused “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.”
Chris Eubank Jr
Ian Walton/Matchroom Boxing
Alas it's all too rare that a fight that has been relentlessly built up truly lives up to the hype. Yet Chris Eubank Jr's unanimous points win over Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a legit barnstormer.
There was not much sweet science on display but in terms of drama and sheer effort you won’t see a better fight this year, and the twelfth round was one of the greatest ever seen inn a British ring.
Inevitably, given how close the fight was (plenty felt scores of 116-112, 116-112, 116-112 flattered Eubank Jr) talk turned to a rematch in September. However, on reflection Benn might be better served going back down to welterweight and trying to win a world belt there.
Eubank Jr’s profile is absolutely huge now so even though the Mexican would start as a healthy betting favourite if they met, Canelo-Eubank Jr in the UK could well happen.
Canelo has always wanted fight in UK, and, Oleksandr Usyk aside, when was the last time a truly elite ‘pound-for-pound’ foreign star rocked up to these shores to throw down in a stadium fight?
Eubank Jr will be 36 in September and very conscious that the sands of time are running down on his career.
If he could make bank by fighting Alvarez at Wembley or going back to Tottenham – while also giving himself the opportunity to win a legitimate world title – what’s not to like?
David Benavidez
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Another unbeaten fighter with fearless self-assurance, Benavidez 30-0 (24) has been banging the drum for a showdown with Canelo for several years now.
The reason they have not fought to this point is that Canelo has alluded that Benavidez lacks major achievements and is disrespectful. However, the reality is Benavidez is the type of fighters who could give Alvarez nightmares.
Commercially, given the Mexico angle, this fight would be huge and it’s a non-brainer that even in 2025 this remains one of the hottest fights in the sport.
Common sense would suggest these two need to settle their differences, but the problem is with common sense is it's not that common.
Boxing’s magic lies in its flirtation with the savage, and Benavidez is a fighter that really brings it. The ‘Mexican Monster’ has elite hand speed, punch selection and a high boxing IQ. His defence is under-rated too.
Styles make fights, and if Canelo v Benavidez ever does get signed before Canelo calls time on his career, you could forgive a shivered timber or two for the excitement it would generate.
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