If Canelo will defeat Makabu I expect him to come down to 175 and fight Beterbiev or Bivol which would be great

[apollo creed]

Some boxing fans want to see Canelo fighting Benavidez and this hype is building up but tbh Benavidez does not have a single good win on his resume to bring something valuable to the table.

Imo a good fight for Benavidez would be Zurdo Ramirez @ 175.

[DrDuke]

Makabu is a more interesting matchup than Benavidez. At least it will bring some spectacle, Canelo will KO a cruiser. Probably afterwards the Redhead indeed goes down to LHW to unify there, as he returned to unify at SMW after trying LHW. It'll be a good move, since Bivol and Beter seem to be ones of the most challenging matchups for Canelo.

[apollo creed]

Makabu is a more interesting matchup than Benavidez. At least it will bring some spectacle, Canelo will KO a cruiser. Probably afterwards the Redhead indeed goes down to LHW to unify there, as he returned to unify at SMW after trying LHW. It'll be a good move, since Bivol and Beter seem to be ones of the most challenging matchups for Canelo.

Makabu seems to be a strong fighter.

[H8Usernames]

https://www.espn.com/blog/dan-rafael/po ... unu-makabu

Main Events won a WBC purse bid on Friday in Dallas for the cruiserweight title elimination bout between southpaws Thabiso Mchunu (17-1, 11 KOs), of South Africa, and Ilunga "Junior" Makabu (18-1, 17 KOs) of Congo. Main Events, which promotes Mchunu, bid $140,100 to beat Makabu promoter Tiozzo Promotions, which was the only other bidder and offered $84,500. It is a 50-50 split so each fighter will earn $70,500.

This multimillion fight has "Not credible.", written all over it.

[apollo creed]

https://www.espn.com/blog/dan-rafael/po ... unu-makabu

Main Events won a WBC purse bid on Friday in Dallas for the cruiserweight title elimination bout between southpaws Thabiso Mchunu (17-1, 11 KOs), of South Africa, and Ilunga "Junior" Makabu (18-1, 17 KOs) of Congo. Main Events, which promotes Mchunu, bid $140,100 to beat Makabu promoter Tiozzo Promotions, which was the only other bidder and offered $84,500. It is a 50-50 split so each fighter will earn $70,500.

This multimillion fight has "Not credible.", written all over it.

Well yes, anyway Makabu beat once Thabiso but we will see what happens next.

We could say that Makabu is just a title holder but he is a big one.

Briedis is the man at CW atm.

Beterbiev, Bivol and Joe Smith are more proven champions.

[Bandog]

Canelo will choose style-safe fights for the rest of his career. Guys like Benividez, Andrade, & Lara type guys won't be on his radar. Benividez is different, but has a work rate Canelo wouldn't be able to match, and he knows it.

[margaret thatcher]

ya, that benavidez - lara style

plant and bjs had that box and move style, and bjs was even a southpaw too, but i guess they dont count since theyre white bois am i right

[brilo33]

Canelo will choose style-safe fights for the rest of his career. Guys like Benividez, Andrade, & Lara type guys won't be on his radar. Benividez is different, but has a work rate Canelo wouldn't be able to match, and he knows it.

cleary not true canelo has the best work rate out most if not all also lara was a long time ago i think that fight is the resaon saul is so good cutting the ring now, good fighters learn, i think Andrade would be an interesting fight tho i cant see him standing up to saul power after a few rds , benavidez looked promising 6 years ago not anymore smith will ko him out , bivol really hasnt taken off after the joe smith win looks to be going backwards beterbiev would be a good fight because of his power but he has shown up his vulnerabilities in previous fights , saul wins all

[apollo creed]

Canelo is very skilled and strong at this moment. He'd beat any fighter 168-175lbs. People don't count Canelo's big experience at the top level.

[Bandog]

Canelo will choose style-safe fights for the rest of his career. Guys like Benividez, Andrade, & Lara type guys won't be on his radar. Benividez is different, but has a work rate Canelo wouldn't be able to match, and he knows it.

cleary not true canelo has the best work rate out most if not all also lara was a long time ago i think that fight is the resaon saul is so good cutting the ring now, good fighters learn, i think Andrade would be an interesting fight tho i cant see him standing up to saul power after a few rds , benavidez looked promising 6 years ago not anymore smith will ko him out , bivol really hasnt taken off after the joe smith win looks to be going backwards beterbiev would be a good fight because of his power but he has shown up his vulnerabilities in previous fights , saul wins all

6 yrs ago Benevidez was a teenager. He'll keep getting better.

Canelo has improved his workrate and stamina, brought his power up and somehow increased it. Not cutting weight or mexican beef? Until the last couple of years Canelo has never been known for his stamina and high work rate.

After 40 professional fights Mayweather and Lara made him look like he'd hardly boxed before at times. People say oh Canelo was young, but forget Mayweather was old at 36.

Beating a 37-38 yr old Beterbeiv will be like his win over Kovalev, incredible to novice fans. Canelo is a great boxer, no doubt, but avoiding certain guys in their prime will tarnish his resume somewhat. He could have went for undisputed at 154 and 160, that would have been more impressive than cherry pick Kovalev, who was clearly past it. Beterbeiv at that time would have been phenomenal.

[apollo creed]

Canelo is a very dedicated and hard working fighter. He's staying active all the time which is a very big advantage over any opponent.

Benavidez should move up at 175 and challenge Zurdo Ramirez, to earn the payday vs Canelo.

Beterbiev, Bivol and Joe Smith have good resumes and titles at 175.

[Thomastearns]

Canelo will choose style-safe fights for the rest of his career. Guys like Benividez, Andrade, & Lara type guys won't be on his radar. Benividez is different, but has a work rate Canelo wouldn't be able to match, and he knows it.

Of course the walking human dartboard will be looking for the safest fights from now on.

Perhaps he may want to fight the winner of the Khan v Brook matchup next?

The Brits have been extremely generous towards their opponents in recent times - the mean Mr Fury excepted of course, and Clenelo is always generous to his selected rivals for bestowing upon them the rare privilege of sharing the same boxing ring.

In fact there's more chance of Pfizer letting various heads of state off the leash than any of the above mentioned boxing events from ever happening.

Clenelo v Beterbiev has less chance than Clenelo v GGG 3.

The PED poster boy is now in the final phase of his drug fuelled career and will naturally want to escape unmolested with all of his loot.

[fanman]

I agree that looks the plan.

Crazy the criticism he's getting. Fighting at cruiser is a dangerous risk. Will be vastly outpowered and outsized one would imagine.
Great small fighters have often beaten bigger opponents so you have to give him a good chance, but he is facing risk of a ko.

Light heavy will be tough even, weighing only 175 on fight night. Probably aims to add some extra muscle at cruiser.

I do wonder if he looks at these challenges as less daunting than facing ggg again. That iron chinned nightmare ggg, presents less reward perhaps.

[Bandog]

I think a fight against a top light heavy guy may be a tougher challenge than a weak champ at cruiser, which is 190 now? Even at 175 Canelo will have a rehydration limit.

Any mention of random drug testing, or with the clout Canelo carries that isn't allowed? Pacquiao caught hell with ped accusations for moving up like he did, with more power and endurance. If you think about it, Pac fought the majority of his career at his walking around weight. Canelo will do it the first time at Cruiser.

[apollo creed]

I agree that looks the plan.

Crazy the criticism he's getting. Fighting at cruiser is a dangerous risk. Will be vastly outpowered and outsized one would imagine.
Great small fighters have often beaten bigger opponents so you have to give him a good chance, but he is facing risk of a ko.

Light heavy will be tough even, weighing only 175 on fight night. Probably aims to add some extra muscle at cruiser.

I do wonder if he looks at these challenges as less daunting than facing ggg again. That iron chinned nightmare ggg, presents less reward perhaps.

Indeed its a risk but all it depends on how serious Makabu will prepare for this fight. Makabu is a top CW! So, he's not a joke.

Makabu, Bivol, Beterbiev and Joe Smith are tough fights for Canelo. From 154 to 190, its an ATG statement!

[Bandog]

I admit not ever seeing Makabu fight, so I hope it's good, and without a rehydration clause. I know he was stopped by Bellew a few yrs back, beat an old Glen Johnson, but that's all I know.

Credit to Canelo taking on a bigger guy though.

[apollo creed]

No matter how you slice it or dice it, Canelo fighting a top 5 CW champion is a bold statement.

Makabu beat Durodola, Cieslak, Kudryashov and Thabiaso Mchunu.


Defeating clearly Makabu is bigger and better achievement than any win at 168 or a washed up Kovalev.

In terms of power, strength and size Makabu seems like a big wrecking ball comparing to Canelo.

[Cyclops]

No matter how you slice it or dice it, Canelo fighting a top 5 CW champion is a bold statement.

Makabu beat Durodola, Cieslak, Kudryashov and Thabiaso Mchunu.


Defeating clearly Makabu is bigger and better achievement than any win at 168 or a washed up Kovalev.

In terms of power, strength and size Makabu seems like a big wrecking ball comparing to Canelo.

I don't even like Canelo and I think that a 5'7ish guy (he looked shorter than Floyd way back and I think Floyd's 5'8 listing is probably generous) fighting way up at Cruiserweight is badass. It doesn't really matter too much who it is: Makabu is a respectable opponent and there's no way the ginger will outweigh him without compromising himself. 14 stone men are no joke when your natural weight is 12.

[apollo creed]

No matter how you slice it or dice it, Canelo fighting a top 5 CW champion is a bold statement.

Makabu beat Durodola, Cieslak, Kudryashov and Thabiaso Mchunu.


Defeating clearly Makabu is bigger and better achievement than any win at 168 or a washed up Kovalev.

In terms of power, strength and size Makabu seems like a big wrecking ball comparing to Canelo.

I don't even like Canelo and I think that a 5'7ish guy (he looked shorter than Floyd way back and I think Floyd's 5'8 listing is probably generous) fighting way up at Cruiserweight is badass. It doesn't really matter too much who it is: Makabu is a respectable opponent and there's no way the ginger will outweigh him without compromising himself. 14 stone men are no joke when your natural weight is 12.

Canelo must be very,very confident in his boxing skills vs Makabu or it may be a case of bite off more than can chew.

[USMCer]

Canelo will meet Benavidez at 175.

[apollo creed]

Canelo will meet Benavidez at 175.

Probably but Bena needs to fight a good name like Zurdo Ramirez or one of those champions at 175 to earn it.

[Bandog]

Since Makabu seems tied up with is mando, why wouldn't Canelo challenge one of the other champs instead of paying step aside money?

Some may think it's a rhetorical question, but maybe I'm missing something.

[apollo creed]

Since Makabu seems tied up with is mando, why wouldn't Canelo challenge one of the other champs instead of paying step aside money?

Some may think it's a rhetorical question, but maybe I'm missing something.

Canelo said that after a very busy 2021, he wants to rest, so in May 2022 would probably fight.