For generation after generation, hardcore fans of boxing have shown unconditional loyalty to the sport, but recently the WBC, WBA, and the undisputed super-middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez have all decided not to give the fans the same type of dedication.
When the big fight weekends occur, skilled fighters faceoff and then they go to battle. During the Monday morning water cooler talks, the conversations are normally about the action that occurred in UFC events.
Unlike boxing, the UFC always attempt to make the matches their fanbase want to see. However, on the night of April 20th, Ryan Garcia pulled off a stunning upset as he defeated Devin Haney via majority decision. It was a good night for boxing, as fans viewed an entertaining bout that was in demand.
The Garcia vs Haney fight was one of the few boxing matches that dominated the Monday morning water cooler talk. Recently, boxing has done a better job in regards to matchmaking, but the 168-pound division will be unable to reach its maximum matchmaking potential due to the fact that it’s been sabotaged.
When Pretty Boy Floyd hit the pro boxing scene back in 1996, he was challenging and fighting every boxer who was at the top of the food chain. Years later when Pretty Boy transitioned into Money Mayweather, a shift occured.
The Hall of Fame boxer became selective in regards to his opponents. However, when fans demanded to see Mayweather take on a young boxer who was destroying sparring partners and abusing punching bags, Floyd Mayweather stepped up and agreed to a mega-fight with Canelo Alvarez.
Now that Alvarez is currently in the same position Mayweather was in 11 years ago, he refuses to follow suit. For the past two years Canelo had the opportunity to give boxing fans the mega fight they want to see, but yet Canelo elects to fight opponents fans label as cherry picks.
Back in May 2022, David Benavidez scored a 3rd round TKO victory over David Lemieux and won the vacant WBC Interim super-middleweight title.
Benavidez became Canelo’s mandatory, but WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman decided to throw more obstacles at Benavidez.
On March 25, 2023, David Benavidez defeated Caleb Plant in the WBC eliminator bout, but instead of getting his shot to fight Canelo for the undisputed crown, Mauricio Sulaiman moved the goalpost and ordered Benavidez to participate in another eliminator bout.
Eight months later, David Benavidez defeated Demetrius Andrade in the WBC eliminator match, but once again, Sulaiman failed to order an undisputed world title fight between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez.
After it became obvious that Jaime Munguia was going to get the Canelo fight on May 4th, David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) decided to move up to 175. With Benavidez moving up to the light heavyweight division, David Morrell became Canelo’s biggest challenge.
Despite his limited number of fights, David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) has successfully defended his WBA (regular) belt six times, but for the past two years his name was never mentioned when Alvarez spoke about possible opponents. Like Benavidez, David Morrell has conceded to the fact that Canelo is not going to fight him.
The WBC and the WBA have both failed when it comes to making the best matches for the boxing public. Neither organization stood up for their number one challenger by ordering the Canelo fight.
While the other weight classes are making the best matches possible, the 168-pound division can’t make the best matches possible because two of the division’s best fighters have moved up to another weight class.
In the new watered down version of the super-middleweight division, Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) is fighting Canelo Alvarez on May 4th, while Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) is the new WBA mandatory. It’s very challenging to get excited for a Canelo vs Munguia or Canelo vs Berlanga matchup.
It’s difficult due to the fact that David Benavidez would be favored if he fought Jaime Munguia or Edgar Berlanga, and David Morrell would also be favored if he fought Munguia or Berlanga. For now the two Davids are in a new division and they will probably face each other for a world title in the near future.
As for the 168-pound division, Canelo Alvarez, a man who said he don’t fight Mexicans because he represents Mexico, will be fighting a Mexican on May 4th. The Canelo-Munguia clash could be entertaining because Munguia is a high volume puncher. Eventually Canelo will land a counterpunch and capitalize on Munguia’s lack of defense.
It’s criminal how the WBA and the WBC have helped the undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez, sabotage the super-middleweight division. Prior to the departures of David Benavidez and David Morrell the super-middleweight division had a variety of options as it relates to constructing intriguing matchups.
Now that Canelo’s biggest threats have been eliminated, he continues to have the ability to pick and choose the fights he believes are his easiest options. For example, when David Morrell was the WBA mandatory, Canelo never looked his way, but now that Edgar Berlanga has been elevated to that position, Canelo will probably all of a sudden become motivated to face his mandatory.
The 168-pound division could have been an elite weight class, with matchups such as Canelo-Benavidez, and Morrell-Berlanga. With the departures of the two Davids, the 168-pound division has transitioned from the potential must-see TV division to we’re really not that interested in it television.