Eddie Hearn, Matchroom promoter, is cool to the concept of Canelo Alvarez defending his undisputed tremendous middleweight championship towards Chris Eubank Jr. subsequent in September.
Hearn’s Case for Berlanga
Hearn doesn’t like that struggle for Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) and desires him to struggle his WBA 168-lb necessary Edgar Berlanga, who he promotes. He thinks {that a} struggle between Canelo and Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) would promote effectively in the united statesdue to the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry.
The issue that Hearn is failing to acknowledge is Berlanga has fought solely low-level opposition his complete profession and isn’t well-known outdoors of the hardcore fan group.
Many hardcore followers view Berlanga as only a hype job with no substance, and Hearn’s cautious match-making for the New Yorker hasn’t helped since signing him.
If Canelo fought Berlanga, he can be criticized nonstop within the U.S, and it wouldn’t be value preventing him as a result of he would by no means hear the tip of it. Hearn isn’t conscious of that as a result of he’s UK-based, however that’s the chilly, brutal actuality.
What Hearn ought to have executed when he signed Berlanga was match him towards these fighters to enhance his recognition within the U.S:
– David Morrell
– Caleb Plant
– David Benavidez
– Christian Mbilli
– Diego Pacheco
As a substitute of Hearn matching Berlanga towards these fighters, he set him up with two straightforward fights towards British fighters Padraig McCrory and Jason Quigley, which did nothing to enhance his recognition within the U.S.
A Misguided Evaluation
“I don’t assume it will be within the UK. It will be within the U.S, however I don’t know,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Charlie Parson’s YouTube channel, reacting to the information of Canelo Alvarez probably preventing Chris Eubank Jr. subsequent in September.
“No, probably not,” mentioned Hearn when requested if he felt the Canelo vs. Eubank Jr. struggle can be a “large” one within the U.S. “Eubank acquired stopped by Liam Smith. He got here again. For me, Conor Benn, the welterweight, towards Chris Eubank Jr. is a 50-50 struggle.”
Canelo wants a tune-up opponent for his subsequent struggle in September to arrange for a struggle towards Terence Crawford in early 2025. Whereas Hearn thinks Berlanga is a good thought, he fights nothing like Crawford and appears like a lightweight heavyweight after he rehydrates for his fights at 168.
Combating Berlanga can be preparation for a struggle towards David Benavidez, however even in that case, he can be a poor opponent as a result of he’s so common.
“Chris Eubank Jr. towards the 168-lb Canelo Alvarez isn’t. So, I feel that I get it, however no. I desire Edgar Berlanga. He’s the [WBA 168-lb] necessary challenger. He’s a giant, robust 168-pounder who can actually punch Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. That’s a giant struggle that does large numbers,” mentioned Hearn.
Canelo-Berlanga wouldn’t do large numbers within the U.S. as a result of Berlanga is thought within the East Coast in New York, and even there, he’s widespread in sections, not your entire state. That’s not sufficient to make a struggle between them an enormous one.
“Simply within the hat,” mentioned Hearn when requested the place he’s with Edgar Berlanga. “You bought [Jermall] Charlo. You bought Berlanga. You bought Eubank as effectively, as I perceive it, so we’ll see. No, probably not. He’s been inactive, and he’s not aggressive. What’s the purpose?” mentioned Hearn when requested if Jermall can be an excellent struggle for Canelo.
A Higher Path for Berlanga
Hearn ought to match Berlanga towards David Morrell to enhance his recognition. If Berlanga will get blown out of the water by Morrell, Hearn ought to end his contract with the New Yorker by returning to match him towards the low-level fighters he’d been placing him in with and wash his fingers off his experiment.
“He’s going to make the choice finally, and it’s going to be a choice based mostly round cash and who he needs to struggle. I feel he would take pleasure in a struggle towards Edgar Berlanga as a result of Edgar Berlanga would stand in entrance of him, he would commerce with him, and he would make it thrilling. So, yeah, that will be the correct selection,” mentioned Hearn about who Canelo ought to struggle subsequent in September.
Whoever Canelo fights in September, he can be criticized until he faces somebody robust, like Morrell or the sunshine heavyweight-sized David Benavidez. If he fights Benavidez, somebody would want to fulfill his $200 million asking value, and a strict 10-lb rehydration restrict can be obligatory.
