Via Max Schramm: Canelo Alvarez could face his death if he goes up to 175 and knocks out undefeated knockout & IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
Former super-middleweight champion Carl Froch believes the talented, solid and tough Beterbiev (17-0, 17 KOs) has the ingredients to help him beat Canelo.
So far, Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) has wisely swapped the Russian Olympic athlete twice, ignoring him as if he were a third rail deadly in a subway.
Will Canelo face Beterbiev in 2022?
Many believe Canelo Alvarez will move to 175th in 2022 after facing WBC heavyweight champion Ilunga Makabu in May.
However, it remains questionable whether Alvarez will face the soon-to-be 37-year-old Beterbiev in 2022 as he is considered the deadliest of the three champions.
With Beterbiev aging and slowing down, Canelo could face the mark more easily against 175-lb WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, in his first game at the tournament in 2022, followed by home WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.
Predictably, Beterbiev will be saved by Canelo to fight one last time in 2023. Why? Because Beterbiev is still too dangerous for Canelo on his current form, but that could change if the Mexican star delays his fight with him until 2023.
Beterbiev would be 38 by then and that might have slowed down enough for Canelo to have a better chance of beating him.
As Canelo quickly moved up 175 to fight for a world title, he chose to be safer in the old spot & wash off Sergey Kovalev than face Beterbiev.
By that point in ‘The Krusher’ Kovalev’s career, he was old, shot and passed it, beaten by Andre Ward x 2 and Eleider Alvarez.
With Canelo’s reputation as a opportunist, he is believed to have spotted the wretched 175-lb WBO champion Kovalev, who was nearly knocked out by Anthony Yarde in his previous bout, and quickly signed on to take on the man. Russia to embellish his record.
Although Canelo says he avoids anyone, it was clear that he avoided Beterbiev when he went to light heavyweight two years ago in 2019.
ANY of the top 175-pound athletes = a threat to Canelo
“Any top boxer in light-heavyweight can be a threat to Canelo and certainly in cruiser class,” Froch said to Sports sky.
“You never know if Oleksandr Usyk will be able to return to cruiser class, but I think Usyk will beat Canelo. He’s too big and too good for him.
“As Canelo stepped up to light-heavyweight, he wisely chose his opponent Sergey Kovalev, who was nearing the end of his career,” said Froch.
The top boxers at number 175 pose a threat to Canelo:
- Artur Betterbiev
- Joe Smith Jr.
- Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez
- Dmitry Bivol
- Joshua Buatsi
It can be doubted that former undisputed cruiser champion Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) will return to his old division to take on Canelo at any time.
Usyk has some intriguing fights still ahead of him against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. If he loses both of those matches, he’ll be ready to fight Canelo in cruiser class.
By then, however, Canelo will have dropped to 175 or 168 and likely won’t be interested in returning to cruiser class.
Beterbiev with ‘good chance’ to beat Alvarez
If Canelo takes Beterbiev in 2022, he will most likely lose to him. But if he ages Beterbiev by waiting until 2023 or 2024 before facing him, his chances increase and he can beat the Russians.
“Artur Beterbiev has a good chance to beat Canelo Froch said.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen overnight because Beterbiev is a strong light-heavyweight boxer, he’s number one in the league and a real threat,” Froch said of the boxer. Russian Artur is a tough opponent for Canelo.
