Canelo Alvarez reportedly appears headed for a return to Matchoom for his next two fights in 2024 against Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia, both DAZN fighters.
Insider Scoop: Plans Shift Dramatically
Salvador Rodriguez reports that there has been a “change of signs” for the undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs), with Jermall Charlo, David Benavidez, and Terence Crawford, and PBC NOT happening.
If this happens, Canelo will return to promoter Eddie Hearn’s fold and fight Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) on the May 4th Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend on DAZN. In September, Canelo would face the unbeaten #1 WBO Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), a Golden Boy-promoted fighter.
Hearn was praising Canelo nonstop last Saturday night after Berlanga’s sixth-round knockout victory over Padraig McCrory in Orlando, Florida. The Matchroom boss gave Canelo the red carpet treatment.
To some, that was a strong sign that Hearn was setting out the welcome wagon for Canelo to return home to him and his Matchroom stable, where he’d had a good run. The way Hearn was showering Canelo with compliments made clear that he wanted him back for the Berlanga fight and perhaps more.
“Change of signs. Everything indicates that neither Charlo, Benavidez, Crawford, nor PBC for Canelo. The Berlanga and Munguía plan is activated with Matchroom for the four-time world champion,” said Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN Knockout on X, talking about Canelo Alvarez’s plans for his next two fights in 2024.
Why the Shift from PBC?
The possible reasons for Canelo leaving PBC:
- PBC Stalemate
- Matchroom Opportunity
- Fresh Challenges
- Legacy considerations
It had been reported that PBC wanted Canelo to fight Munguia next on May 4th instead of Jermall Charlo to get the $35 million guaranteed for his fight.
PBC’s Preference for Munguia May Have Sparked Friction
The friction may have been due to Canelo saying earlier this month to Box Azteca that he wouldn’t fight a Mexican fighter on the May 4th date and wanted an American. If PBC only wanted Munguia for that date, that caused a statement with Canelo, who wouldn’t take that fight.
The boxing public might not be excited about seeing Canelo face Berlanga next, who they see as a poor hype job with no talent, but he’s unbeaten, and he has a large Puerto Rican fanbase on the East Coast that will make it a big fight on DAZN PPV.