Canelo News

In the boxing world, opinions often hit as hard as punches. Especially when they come from Eddy Reynoso, Canelo Alvarez’s mastermind coach. Why would Reynoso, a strategist behind boxing’s biggest star, pick Ryan Garcia over Devin Haney? It’s not every day that Reynoso tips the scales.

Garcia and Haney, two lightning rods in the lightweight division, are on a collision course. But isn’t Haney equally tactical, equally dangerous? What does Reynoso see that we don’t?

Is Haney not as smart as Ryan Garcia?

In an engaging conversation with ESNews, Eddy Reynoso, the architect behind Canelo Alvarez’s success, made a compelling pick in the hypothetical matchup between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney. Reynoso stated, “Very good fight, I think Ryan. Ryan has got the punch and is smart.” This endorsement from Reynoso isn’t just another opinion; it’s a heavyweight statement in the boxing community, considering his pedigree.

Transitioning from Reynoso’s perspective to the fighters’ reality, Garcia and Haney have been dancing around the prospect of facing each other, exchanging verbal jabs that have the boxing world on the edge of its seat. Garcia, with his explosive power and charisma, has dazzled fans with knockouts that speak louder than words. On the other hand, Haney, who is currently the reigning champion of the WBC has truly demonstrated an impressive combination of technical skills and strategic thinking.

John Ryder took on two Mexican stars and came out empty-handed from both! A few hours ago, Jaime Munguia defeated Ryder via 9th round TKO at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona, following Ryder’s last clash against Canelo Alvarez in May last year. However, with Munguia touted as a potential opponent for Alvarez – how did the two Mexicans fair against the common opponent?

Canelo last appeared in the ring back in September 2023 against Jermell Charlo, proving his age hasn’t dulled the power behind his punches. Besides winning the fight via unanimous decision, he dropped the super welterweight champion in the seventh round. Meanwhile, Ryder was the latest addition to Munguia’s list of victims. So, here’s how the two Mexicans faired against Ryder!

Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia against John Ryder

When Canelo took on the Brit back in May, it was a battle of the ages. Canelo had dropped Ryder once in the fifth round and dominated the fight throughout with his jabs and shots to the head! However, Ryder had earned praise from the Mexican crowd present in the Estadio Akron Arena in Zapopan, Mexico. Meanwhile, Munguia did more than just dominate Ryder! Munguia, the undefeated rising Mexican star, dropped Ryder twice. First in the second round and another in the fifth. 

Munguia demolished Ryder in the fight and ended it in the ninth round of their clash. So, when compared to Munguia, Canelo definitely comes off a little short with regard to the manner of win. Plus, Munguia scored two knockdowns compared to Canelo’s one. Moreover, it was a stoppage victory for Munguia compared to Canelo’s UD win. Meanwhile, Munguia is eyeing a fight against Canelo, as he detailed after the fight tonight.

Dmitry Bivol believes Terence Crawford has what it takes to climb up three weight classes amid speculation over a future fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Crawford, who is ranked as the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter by Ring Magazine, has warmed to the idea of a showdown with Canelo after the Mexican signed a three-fight deal with PBC (Premier Boxing Champions).

3

Bivol was named 2022 Fighter of the Year after his victory over Alvarez in May 2022 and after spending much of 2023 chasing a rematch, it appears that a clash with Crawford appears more likely, for now.

That would require 147-pound Crawford to climb three weight classes to go head-to-head with Alvarez.

Whilst the jump seems to be a steep one, WBA light heavyweight champion Bivol believes Crawford is well equipped to take on the challenge.

“When I stepped into a boxing gym, the first rule was to respect weight classes but I don’t know what [Crawford is] going to eat,” Bivol told Boxing Scene.

“He’s the best fighter. Everything that he’s planning, shouldn’t look like it’s crazy. If he’s thinking about it, if he’s talking about it, it means it’s possible.”

Bivol has been unable to capitalise on the momentum shift following his win over Alvarez.

The 33-year-old fought just once in 2023 – a unanimous win over Lyndon Arthur in Saudi Arabia last month.

3

3

Bivol is aiming to become undisputed light heavyweight champion with a bout against WBC, WBO, and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev in the works following his destruction of Callum Smith earlier this month.

Boxing is a complicated and convoluted sport with several world champions in each division.

Most observers recognise that we are now in a four-belt era, with the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO all given credibility as legitimate world titles.

18

See the full list of the current men’s boxing world champions below…

Heavyweight (200lbs )

WBA – Oleksandr Usyk

WBC – Tyson Fury

IBF – Oleksandr Usyk

WBO – Oleksandr Usyk

_{^{*Mahmoud Charr has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}}

_{^{*Zhilei Zhang has the lesser WBO ‘interim’ belt}}

18

Bridgerweight (224lbs)

WBC – Lukasz Rozanski

^{*Kevin Lerena has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

18

Cruiserweight (200lbs)

WBA – Arsen Goulamirian

WBC – Noel Mikaelian

IBF – Vacant

WBO – Chris Billam-Smith

18

Light-Heavyweight (175lbs)

WBA – Dmitry Bivol

WBC – Artur Beterbiev

IBF – Artur Beterbiev

WBO – Artur Beterbiev

18

Super-Middleweight (168lbs)

WBA – Canelo Alvarez

WBC – Canelo Alvarez

IBF – Canelo Alvarez

WBO – Canelo Alvarez

^{*David Morrell has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

^{*David Benavidez has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

18

Middleweight (160lbs)

WBA – Erislandy Lara

WBC – Jermall Charlo

IBF – Janibek Alimkhanuly

WBO – Janibek Alimkhanuly

^{*Carlos Adames has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

18

Super-Welterweight (154lbs)

WBA – Jermell Charlo

WBC – Jermell Charlo

IBF – Vacant

WBO – Tim Tszyu

18

Welterweight (147lbs)

WBA – Terence Crawford

WBC – Terence Crawford

IBF – Jaron Ennis

WBO – Terence Crawford

^{*Eimantas Stanionis has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

^{*Mario Barrios has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

18

Super-Lightweight (140lbs)

WBA – Rolly Romero

WBC – Devin Haney

IBF – Subriel Matias

WBO – Teofimo Lopez

^{*Ismael Barroso has the lesser WBA ‘interim’ belt}

18

Lightweight (135lbs)

WBA – Gervonta Davis

WBC – Shakur Stevenson

IBF – Vacant

WBO – Vacant

18

Super-Featherweight (130lbs)

WBA – Lamont Roach Jr

WBC – O’Shaquie Foster

IBF – Joe Cordina

WBO – Emanuel Navarrete

18

Featherweight (126lbs)

WBA – Vacant

WBC – Rey Vargas

IBF – Luis Alberto Lopez

WBO – Rafael Espinoza

^{*Brandon Figueroa has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

18

Super-Bantamweight (122lbs)

WBA – Naoya Inoue

WBC – Naoya Inoue

IBF – Naoya Inoue

WBO – Naoya Inoue

18

Bantamweight (118lbs)

WBA – Takuma Inoue

WBC – Alexandro Santiago

IBF – Emmanuel Rodriguez

WBO – Jason Moloney

18

Super-Flyweight (115lbs)

WBA – Kazuto Ioka

WBC – Juan Estrada

IBF – Fernando Martinez

WBO – Junto Nakatani

^{*Carlos Cuadras has the lesser WBC ‘interim’ belt}

18

Flyweight (112lbs)

WBA – Artem Dalakian

WBC – Julio Cesar Martinez

IBF – Jesse Rodriguez

WBO – Jesse Rodriguez

18

Light-Flyweight (108lbs)

WBA – Kenshiro Teraji

WBC – Kenshiro Teraji

IBF – Adrian Curiel

WBO – Jonathan Gonzalez

18

Minimumweight (105lbs)

WBA – Knockout CP Freshmart (Thammanoon Niyomtrong)

WBC – Yudai Shigeoka

IBF – Ginjiro Shigeoka

WBO – Oscar Collazo

^{*Erick Rosa has the lesser WBA ‘regular’ belt}

Callum Smith has warned Artur Beterbiev against making three crucial mistakes ahead of their unified light-heavyweight championship clash this weekend.

Beterbiev defends the WBC, IBF and WBO 175lb titles against Britain’s Smith at the Videotron Center in Quebec City, live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The champion has suggested that Smith will struggle to replicate his success at super-middleweight in the division above.

• Callum Smith: The best version of me will KO Artur Beterbiev
• The scariest man in boxing? Artur Beterbiev’s threat for Callum Smith
• Stream Sky Sports on NOW

But Smith is adamant that Beterbiev should not underestimate the threat he poses.

“I think people always see me as a big super-middle and probably a small light-heavyweight,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think I’m still a big 175lbs. I think I’ve filled into the weight nicely since moving up. It’s been a couple of years now. If he does [think he’s just a super-middleweight] then more fool him.

“I think he’ll be in for a shock when we get in there and I’m a big, fully fledged 175lbs.

“I think I’ve carried my power.

“I don’t really know what his opinion of me is. But we’ll find out.”

Smith’s most high profile contest was a tame points defeat to Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.

But he promises that is not a true reflection of his fighting ability.

“I think most people probably judge me off that performance, I think that’s the frustrating part of it. It was the biggest fight in my career at the time probably on the biggest stage. So a lot of people probably know me from that fight rather than everything I’ve done beforehand and my performances since,” Smith said.

“But again, that’s on him. If he wants to judge me on that performance then it’s probably more fool him. But I know what version of me sits here now and what version of me is going to step in the ring.

“It’s a completely different fighter to the one that fought Canelo Alvarez down at 168lbs.”

Dmitry Bivol holds the one world title, the WBA belt, that Beterbiev doesn’t possess and they are expected to fight for the undisputed championship later this year.

“I’ve been a world champion myself and the first thing you want to do is fight the other champions and kind of cement yourself as the best in the division. But I wouldn’t sign for another fight or talk about another fight while I still had one sitting in front of me,” Smith said.

Looking too far ahead is a mistake all too easily made in boxing.

“I think we’ve seen with the [Deontay] Wilder and [Anthony] Joshua situation you can never count on anything or bank on any result, especially in the higher weight divisions. At world level I think anyone can be beat.

“It probably shows his confidence in beating me but I’m very confident in going there and ripping the script up.”

Can Smith beat Beterbiev?

Artur Beterbiev must be considered the favourite. He has never lost, and never heard the final bell as he’s stopped every opponent so far.

He holds three world titles and has spent his whole career in the weight class.

But can Smith upset the reigning champion?

Light-heavyweight Olympic star Ben Whittaker said: “You can never write off Beterbiev just for the simple fact he’s 19-0, 19 knockouts. That is ridiculous. When he touches you, he can hurt you.

“[Anthony] Yarde lost but there were certain points in there where if it was a couple of years ago it wouldn’t even be close where Yarde actually got the shots in, backed him up sometimes.

“So I think a tall powerfu

With its farewell to 2023, Premier Boxing Champions hit the stream with a “Year in Review” compilation highlighting some of the best moments from inside the squared circle. The clip features reigning undisputed super middleweight king Canelo Alvarez, unbeaten three-division world champion Gervonta Davis, undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford, top super middleweight and interim WBC titleholder, David Benavidez, interim IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, among others.

The video sees “Tank” Davis’ dominati

Jake Paul is trying to put his money where his mouth is.

Earlier this month, Paul announced his next boxing match will be against the little-known Andre August on Dec. 15 at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. The matchup came as a surprise to fans as August is major diversion from most of Paul’s previous opponents, who have been either former MMA fighters or influencers. Instead, August is a 10-1-1 boxer from Houston with minimal profile. But that’s exactly why Paul says he wanted to take the matchup.

“There’s a lot of reasons,” Paul explained on The MMA Hour. “It’s mostly for me, for my experience, my road to world championship, and to grow inside the squared circle, those four corners. And to get the time under my belt. I think people, when I said I wanted to become world champion, thought it was just some gimmick or I was saying it just to sell more fights or to gain people’s attention. When I said it, I actually meant it.

“This is me acting like a boxing prospect. It’s me building my experience in the ring, taking challenges, and staying sharp in camp. Working, working, working. This is the time I need to be able to get to that level of being the best in the world. That’s where I’m going to be and that’s where I have my mind set on. It’s my biggest goal and this is the path to get there. It’s no longer about business and making all this money. I’ve already generated $250 million, $200 million in pay-per-view sales. We’ve done that. Great. Congratulations. This is about real boxing now.”

A former YouTuber and Disney Channel star, Paul has car

Tim Tszyu’s message to Jermell Charlo

What’s next for Jermell Charlo and Tim Tszyu after Canelo Alvarez’s impressive performance.

Get a read on this story

But it’s a member-only story. Subscribe today to unlock it and more…

Tim Tszyu’s message to Jermell Charlo

What’s next for Jermell Charlo and Tim Tszyu after Canelo Alvarez’s impressive performance.

Full Digital Access

$1 a week for the first 4 weeks.
Min. cost $4. Conditions apply.*

Full Digital Access

$1 a week for the first 4 weeks.
Min. cost $4. Conditions apply.*

• Read every story on web & app
• Subscriber-exclusive news emails straight to your inbox
• A digital version of Today’s Paper

App or digital edition only customer? To upgrade, call 1300 MY NEWS (696 397)

Full Digital Access

Features

• No lock-in contract

PLUS

• Unlimited articles on web & app
• Subscriber-exclusive news emails

LAS VEGAS — “The Mexican Monster” is calling his shot and the pressure is on Canelo Alvarez to answer the call.

David Benavidez pulverized the previously unbeaten Demetrius Andrade and forced the former two-division world champion to quit on the stool at the end of the sixth round to retain the WBC interim super middleweight champion at the Michelob Arena at the Mandalay Bay. 

It was a systematic destruction that saw Benavidez’s pressure eventually break down Andrade in a violent display of offense and one that will almost certainly see fans demand a fight between the 26-year-old and the undisputed champion Canelo.

“Let’s give the people what they want to see and they want to see David Benavidez against Canelo!” Benavidez said afterward. 

“Give me the fight we all want to see.”@Benavidez300 WANTS the king next 👑@Canelo | #BenavidezAndrade pic.twitter.com/631kn5njzx

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 26, 2023

The fight was as violent as many anticipated as Benavidez stalked Andrade from the opening bell. Andrade was successful early on circling away and changing levels to keep the target small. He did land but there was nothing to cause Benavidez to be cautious with his approach. 

By round three the pressure began to cause Andrade to wilt and Benavidez saw openings to put power punches behind his long jab. The fourth round was all Benavidez as he unloaded bludgeoning combinations as Andrade couldn’t find an escape route. A pile of uppercuts and right hands wore down the former champion before a vicious right hand put Andrade down at the end of the round. 

From that point, it was all Benavidez. 

The champion never stopped looking for the finish and patiently stalked his prey with booming uppercut and combinations. Once the multi-punch combinations were unleashed by the end of round five, Andrade’s punch resistance was reduced to nil. 

With nothing left in the gas tank and an incensed champion looking to end the fight, the sixth round was an abusive display of power from Benavidez. Multiple uppercuts and right hands found their home as Andrade wobbled around the ring trying to keep his balance. He’d make it out of the round but his corner had seen enough. 

Benavidez improves to 28-0 with his 24th victory coming by way of knockout. Canelo has attempted to steer clear of Benavidez but how much longer can he avoid “The Mexican Monster?”

Here’s how it all went down in Las Vegas.

MORE: Sporting News’ super middleweight rankings

David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade live updates, highlights, results

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 26, 2023

Round Seven: Andrade’s corner has seen enough and stops the fight before the start of the seventh! It’s over!

SN Unofficial Scorecard: —

Round Six: Benavidez marches forward and Andrade just shrinks. He’s fighting a mountain. Right hand, left hand, uppercut. Andrade slinks away. Body shot. Another right hand. More body shots. Uppercuts. It’s abusive. Another combination from Benavidez. Target practice. Uppercut from Andrade lands but it does nothing. Benavidez digs to the body and lands a right hand that sends Andrade’s mouthpiece flying. Benavidez is clobbering Andrade. Andrade is a mess.

SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez (59-54 Benavidez)

Round Five: Benavidez is after Andrade and lands a right and an uppercut. Body shots. He’s bouncing h