The WBA has reportedly made Edgar Berlanga the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez’s super middleweight title with their organization.
New “Regular” Title for Morrell – Kalajdzic Winner
They are also creating a regular WBA light heavyweight title for David Morrell Jr. and Radivoje Kalajdzic to battle for when they fight on June 22nd in Houston, Texas.
Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) currently holds the WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight title, which he’ll vacate if he successfully defeats Kalajdzic.
Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) had previously been made the mandatory challenger for Morrell Jr’s WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight title after his sixth-round knockout of little-known Irish fighter Padraig McCrory on February 24th. However, when Berlanga was asked at the post-fight press conference if he would fight Morrell for his WBA title, he said he wouldn’t.
Berlanga said he wanted Canelo and felt he deserved the fight based on his win over the obscure McCrory, whom many U.S. fans had never heard of or seen before.
Fans See Morrell Snub, Potential Canelo Protection
Boxing fans aren’t too happy about the WBA waiting until Morrell had decided to move up to 175 before ordering a mandatory for Canelo’s 168-lb title, as they feel that the organization should have done that with Morrell, who had been waiting and hoping for a fight against the Mexican superstar.
Morrell is considered a real threat to Canelo, and a major talent far superior to Berlanga, who is seen by many fans as a manufactured fighter with a resume filled with cream puffs from top to bottom.
Fans view this move as a way to protect Canelo from the ultra-talented Cuban Morrell Jr., a fighter that many feel is a better fighter than David Benavidez. Hence, the Mexican Monster has shown zero interest in fighting Morrell Jr. The Cuban talent is moving to 175 in what some see as a way to continue putting pressure on Benavidez to face him.
Hearn’s Influence Questioned
Promoter Eddie Hearn recently signed Berlanga a year ago, and he’s been quite vocal about wanting him to fight Canelo. Now with the WBA making Berlanga the mandatory for Canelo’s belt, Hearn May get his wish soon.
When or if Canelo fights Berlanga, there’s going to be a major backlash from fans because it’ll be seen as a cherry-pick and another example of a fight that fans don’t want to see. It wouldn’t be a big deal if Berlanga had taken the fight with Morrell and proven himself by beating him.
Of course, Berlanga would likely have lost badly in that fight, and his chances of ever fighting Canelo would be over once and for all.