Canelo Alvarez, the unified super middleweight champion, continued to solidify his legacy with a dominant performance against Edgar Berlanga on September 14 in Las Vegas. Over the course of 12 rounds, Alvarez showcased his elite boxing skills, earning a unanimous decision victory that reinforced his status as one of the sport’s best. While the win left no doubt about his abilities, it also sparked fresh debates about his choice of opponents, with some experts and fans questioning whether Alvarez is still seeking true challenges or merely chasing big paydays.

Canelo Alvarez’s performance against Berlanga was clinical. From the outset, he controlled the pace of the fight, breaking down the younger challenger with precision and patience. Berlanga, known for his power and aggressive style, was unable to find any rhythm against the more experienced Alvarez, who demonstrated why he remains at the pinnacle of the sport. Despite being 33 years old, Canelo looked as sharp as ever, methodically dismantling Berlanga with a mixture of body shots, counterpunches, and footwork that left his opponent with few options.

While Berlanga showed heart, it became clear early on that he was outclassed by the Mexican superstar. The unanimous decision was a fitting conclusion to a fight that Canelo dominated from start to finish.

Despite the victory, criticism has followed Alvarez, with many questioning the quality of his recent opponents. Some believe that he has started to prioritize financial gain over facing legitimate threats in the ring. This sentiment has been echoed by boxing personalities like Showbizz, a musical artist and boxing commentator, who recently weighed in on Canelo’s career trajectory.

According to Showbizz, while Canelo still enjoys the attention and the accolades, he no longer seeks the same level of competition he once did. “Canelo wants to fight, but he doesn’t want to have to fight,” Showbizz stated on his podcast. He suggested that Alvarez is carefully selecting opponents whose styles are tailored to his strengths, allowing him to dominate without truly being tested. Showbizz added, “He is handpicking styles that make it action-packed, but Tailormade for him to not to fight.”

While not dismissing the abilities of Canelo’s recent challengers, Showbizz believes that Alvarez’s opponent choices are designed to maximize financial rewards without putting his reign at serious risk. These claims have sparked debate among fans, many of whom wonder if the Mexican star is avoiding the toughest possible matchups at this stage in his career.

Alvarez’s critics point to his long career as a possible explanation for his recent approach to matchmaking. With over 60 professional fights and 20 years in the sport, Canelo has faced and defeated some of the best boxers in the world, including Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, and Sergey Kovalev. After years of consistently taking on elite competition, some argue that Canelo has earned the right to pick fights that guarantee entertainment and financial success, even if they may not always represent the most dangerous challenges.

Showbizz highlighted this notion, suggesting that Alvarez’s current mindset is focused on putting on a spectacle for fans rather than testing himself against the toughest opposition. “The thing is he is great, and he is like, ‘Haven’t I done enough to now just put on shows?’” This perspective frames Canelo’s recent fights as part of his evolution from a hungry young fighter seeking greatness to a seasoned champion who has already proven his worth and is now more focused on maintaining his legacy and drawing crowds.

With his victory over Berlanga in the books, attention now turns to Canelo’s next fight. Two potential opponents have emerged as the most intriguing options: Terence Crawford and Dmitry Bivol.

1. Terence Crawford: The undefeated welterweight champion has long been considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. At 36 years old, Crawford is nearing the end of his career and is eager to secure a marquee fight against Alvarez. Known for his versatility and ring intelligence, Crawford represents a fresh and intriguing challenge for Canelo. After calling out Alvarez on multiple occasions, Crawford remains hopeful that a superfight between the two can be made. For fans seeking a true test for Alvarez, a bout against Crawford would certainly deliver.

2. Dmitry Bivol: Another option for Canelo is a rematch with light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. The Russian fighter handed Alvarez only his second career loss in 2022, outpointing him in a masterful display of boxing. Canelo has made it clear that he wants to avenge this loss, and a rematch would provide him with the opportunity to settle the score. However, Bivol is currently scheduled to face Artur Beterbiev in October in a fight for the undisputed light heavyweight crown. Should Bivol emerge victorious, a rematch with Canelo would be one of the biggest fights in the sport.

As Canelo Alvarez continues his illustrious career, the question of how he will be remembered looms large. Will he be seen as a fighter who sought out and defeated the best, or will critics label him as someone who, later in his career, chose easier opponents for bigger paydays?

While his next opponent is yet to be determined, fans remain divided on whether Canelo is still pursuing true greatness or simply capitalizing on his star power. A fight against Crawford or Bivol would undoubtedly help answer that question, as both fighters represent legitimate threats to his reign.