World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman is looking forward to the upcoming fight between undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and challenger Jermell Charlo.
Charlo, the undisputed junior middleweight champion, will move up by two weight divisions to challenge Canelo on September 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Showtime PPV will carry the event.
“It is a great fight. It is something very interesting. Undisputed super middleweight and undisputed super welterweight. Great rivalry between Mexico and USA – history says great fights come from these combinations and I don’t think it will be different. It will be a great, tough fight for both,” Sulaiman told Gambling.com.
“[Canelo is] still making his legacy. He is an active boxer but without a doubt he is up there with the greats of the history like Julio Cesar Chavez and Erik Morales, there’s so many great fighters that have come from Mexico. He’s a great among the greatest.”
The man that many observers would like to see Canelo face is undefeated contender David Benavidez.
Benavidez, who holds the WBC’s interim-belt at 168-pounds, is the mandatory challenger to Canelo’s title.
There are ongoing discussions to finalize a fight between Benavidez and former world champion Demetrius Andrade – which is targeted for a date in November.
Should Canelo and Benavidez come away with victories in their upcoming fights, there is a possibility of the WBC ordering that matchup in the first half of 2024.
“David Benavidez. He is the interim champion. He is mandatory contender for the WBC. Benavidez’s term for the mandatory status is in March, 2024. It will absolutely be a great fight,” Sulaiman said.