In a recent interview with boxing social, highly regarded trainer Shane McGuigan is picking Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (57-1-2, 39 KOs) to defeat Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) if they fight next year.
McGuigan mentions how Callum Johnson (20-1, 14 KOs) was able to drop Beterbiev and how the Russian boxer is now 36 years old, which makes it hard for him to make weight.
He then goes on to say that he doesn’t believe Beterbiev could knock Canelo out, and if the Mexican superstar were to win, it would be via stoppage.
Since turning professional, Beterbiev has crafted a perfect record and knocked out legitimate contenders in the form of Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 KOs) and Johnson in a devastating fashion. However, it is fair to say he has never faced anyone close to Alvarez’s level.
The new king of the super middleweight division is looking for his next legacy-building fight, and moving up to light-heavyweight to face an undefeated fighter may propel him higher in the list of all-time great boxers.
Canelo previously moved up to 175 and knocked out Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) to capture the WBO title. However, Beterbiev is on another level, “Krusher” had already lost twice to Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) and once to Eleider Alvarez (25-2, 13 KOs) when facing Alvarez.
Whereas, Beterbiev still has that air of invincibility that should make for a competitive fight against the pound-for-pound superstar. The Russian would have a size advantage and arguably more power.
Then again, Canelo has dynamite in his hands, too, and if fighters like Johnson can drop Beterbiev, surely Alvarez can do the same. Not to mention the boxing skills and chin that the Mexican possesses. If Beterbiev can’t knock him out, does he have any chance of winning on the cards?
Alvarez is not fighting until May, yet a fight against Beterbiev would definitely be an exciting bout. Then if he is able to unify at light heavyweight, this would undoubtedly place him as an all-time great.
One thing is for sure; whether it’s David Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs), Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs), or Beterbiev next, we can expect to see Canelo in an explosive fight next with a fighter who is going to go for the knockout.