Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso says Beterbiev, Bivol, Benavidez & Charlo options for next fight

By Boxing News - 11/15/2021 - Comments

By Sean Jones: Canelo Alvarez’s trainer/manager Eddy Reynoso has confirmed that Artur Beterbiev, David Benavidez, Dimitry Bivol, and Jermall Charlo are the four options that they’re considering for the Mexican star’s next fight in early 2022.

Surprisingly, Gennadiy Golovkin wasn’t mentioned by Reynoso, which suggests that he’s being frozen out for giving Canelo such a hard time before their rematch in 2018.

Golovkin gave Canelo grief both inside and outside of the ring, and now he’s been put in the deep freeze, being frozen out by the Mexican star for the last three years.

It’s a tough decision for Canelo because, in terms of his goal of becoming the undisputed champion at 175, he’s not going to create a lot of interest by choosing IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) off WBA champion Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs).

“Charlo, Benavidez, Beterbiev, Bivol,” said Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso to ESNEWS on his next fight.

Artur Beterbiev has two titles at 175 that Canelo wants to get his mitts on, so he’s a likely option for the Mexican star’s next fight on the Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend next May.

Of those four, former two-time WBC super middleweight champion Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) might be the most difficult for Canelo because of his size, power, youth, high work rate, and the body punching that he does.

Benavidez checks all boxes in the weak areas of Canelo’s game, and for that reason, he’s likely going to continue to be frozen out like Golovkin. Benavidez is the equivalent of kryptonite to weaken Canelo, making him mortal and utterly beatable.

We all know that Canelo can’t handle fighting at a fast pace without gassing out after four or five rounds and staying tired for the remainder of the contest. We also know that Canelo can’t take body shots at all, and he wilts quickly.

Image: Canelo's trainer Eddy Reynoso says Beterbiev, Bivol, Benavidez & Charlo options for next fight

Canelo doesn’t like getting hit, and he’s getting old at 31. The last thing that Canelo wants is to go up against a young lion that throws hard body shots and constantly pressures the way Benavidez does.

The 6’2″ Benavidez brings all the troublesome elements that Golovkin brought to Canelo. Still, he’s a much better body puncher than the Kazakh, and he’s willing to fight on the inside against Canelo.

Golovkin wanted no part of fighting Canelo in close, which is why he came up empty in their two fights. If Golovkin had stood in close and nailed Canelo with body shots, he would have worn him out quicker and likely knocked him out in both contests.

The bigger money fights for Canelo would be against Gennadiy Golovkin, David Benavidez, and Charlo. None of those guys will help cement Canelo’s legacy because they don’t have titles that he wants/needs for him to become undisputed champion again.

At this stage in Canelo’s career, he’s not going to melt down to 160 to try and collect all four belts in that weight class.