In this Thursday’s pre-Canelo fight Sack, we got mostly Canelo-related questions and comments (along with a side order of Lara-Garcia). So, expect a touch of cinnamon with my salty load of wisdom this week.
What’s Next For Canelo?
Hey Magno.
You and I (and everybody else) agree that Canelo should pulverize Berlanga this Saturday. I don’t see one credible boxing person saying otherwise. So that begs the question of what’s next for Canelo. There’s not much in my opinion. If that Benavidez fight doesn’t somehow magically materialize, who can he fight next? Chris Eubank Jr. looks like the favorite. Mbilli, maybe? Maybe Terence Crawford? I don’t know. What do you see as Canelo’s next move after Berlanga?
– John from Brooklyn
Hey John.
I’m getting a sinking feeling these days that a Crawford fight is becoming more and more of a possibility. I just see a softening of Team Canelo’s hardline “it’s not happening” stance ever since they saw Bud make his not-so-spectacular debut at 154. I also see that Bud has, reportedly, taken a hardline “I only want Canelo, daddy Turki” stance. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s just the general vibe I’ve been getting lately. If the Crawford fight isn’t next, I’m almost sure that Eubank Jr. will be getting the call. According to Eubank, he already got the call for this fight, but the financial terms weren’t right. I’ve been saying for ages that Eubank would be the ideal opponent in the eyes of Canelo and his team-- he looks like a star, has the famous last name, and is a very beatable B-side. The risk vs. reward assessment is off-the-hook pointing towards Eubank and I think that fight is a “for sure” thing at some point, whether it’s next or the fight after next. Other than that, I agree, there’s just not much else-- other than the fights he’s already passed on.
Berlanga’s Chances
Magno!
I’ve been a reader and fan for a long time. You’re really the only boxing writer I even care to follow these days. Even when I disagree violently with your takes, I’m at least entertained by how you say them and I even sometimes find myself coming around to your point of view.
My question is about Edgar Berlanga and his realistic chances against Canelo in this fight.
We know Berlanga can bang and that he’s a big super middleweight, but do you think he even has a remote chance of beating Canelo? Can he make things interesting? What can he do to give himself a legit chance of scoring the monumental upset?
Thanks for everything you do and for all the years of entertainment.
– Phil
Hey Phil.
Thanks for reading and for supporting my madness over the years.
I’ve said this before, but the only way Canelo gets put down in this fight is if there’s a sniper in the balcony at T-Mobile. I guess if I’m going to be a super stickler, I should say that, technically, there’s a chance of anything happening. Maybe aliens land on the strip and start zapping people into dust. Maybe an army of rabid dogs attack the arena. Yeah, I guess, anything can happen. But I see aliens and rabid dogs attacking as just slightly more unlikely than Berlanga finding a way to beat Canelo. We’re just talking about two fighters at two very different levels. Canelo-Berlanga is the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs vs. a good Division II college football team. Berlanga has some physical tools, but he’s never even been able to fully work them to his advantage against third-tier fighters. To think he’s going to pull it all together, suddenly, against Canelo is pure science fiction. His power has been a hyping point for PBC/DAZN, but even that is overstated, IMO. He only has one KO in his last six fights. Not-so-coincidentally, his power has been less impressive and he’s struggled more as he moved from fighting fourth-tier to third-tier opposition. Outside of some random wild, lucky shot that just happens to land at the perfect time, in the perfect spot, Berlanga has ZERO chance.
Erislandy Lara vs. Danny Garcia
Hi Paul.
I’m intrigued by Lara vs. Garcia on the Canelo-Berlanga undercard. I know both are past their primes, but we’ve never seen either really bested in the ring. They’ve lost, but they’ve never actually looked bad in defeat. Their skills are still there and I’m expecting a high-level chess match. What say you?
– D in Dallas
Hey D.
It IS an intriguing matchup, even if it’s five or six years past the point where it would really matter in the bigger boxing picture. I don’t expect an action fight, though. There’s hope for some fireworks as Lara’s been fighting in the pocket more these days (out of necessity) and working more of a power game. If Lara comes to box, however, this will be an epic snoozer as Garcia is never NOT going to be a cautious, conservative counter puncher. If the fight plays out like that, Lara-Garcia will be a chess match of a boxing match that is more boring than an actual chess match. But I think Lara may come out trying to hurt Garcia, counting on his natural size advantage, and that may make for some early excitement. If it gets past the sixth or seventh, I think we’ll need to settle in and keep chugging Mountain Dews to stay awake for the main event.
Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.