Canelo Alvarez faced off with Ilunga Makabu. Less than two weeks after his historic fight against Caleb Plant, Canelo Alvarez already met and sized up his next opponent. The pair were at the WBC convention earlier today, along with many other champions. Over there, they decided to greet and face off on center stage in front of the world’s media.
Canelo fought earlier this month on November 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. He made history and became the first-ever ‘undisputed’ super-middleweight world champion. Canelo and his team then announced their decision to move up to cruiserweight and challenge the WBC champion.
First time seeing each other. Canelo and Makabu.
The challenger and the champion or the crusierweight title 🔰#wbcmx59 pic.twitter.com/kp6NtGaa9M
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) November 18, 2021
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Eddy Reynoso had to petition the WBC to order the fight, since Canelo has never fought in the cruiserweight division. Now that the WBC has accepted the fight, both camps need to reach an agreement or the WBC will set a purse bid for the rights to the fight. For Canelo, this will be another shot at history as he looks to become a five-division world champion.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman was the one who revealed that the WBC approved the fight. “The WBC has approved unanimously Canelo to fight for the WBC cruiserweight championship of the world,” Sulaiman said. “This is a surprise to me but I’m sure he will continue to make history.”
Also read: WATCH: Canelo Alvarez’s Next Opponent, Ilunga Makabu, Knocks Out Opponent With Brutal Power
Canelo Alvarez reveals why he wants to move up to Cruiserweight
Canelo Alvarez revealed why he made the decision to move up to cruiserweight. “I want to make history and I like challenges, that’s why.”
For Canelo, it’s all about making history. Ever since he was 15-years-old when he laced up his first pair of gloves at Eddy Reynoso’s gym, he’s wanted to make history and stake his claim as one of the best to ever do it.
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Canelo Alvarez asked why he's opting to fight Ilunga Makabu at cruiserweight, rather than David Benavidez: "Right now I can do whatever I want. I faced all the 168lbs world champions, I took the title from all of them. Now I do what I want."
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 18, 2021
When asked about why he’s fighting Makabu instead of David Benavidez, Canelo said, “Right now I can do whatever I want. I faced all the 168lbs world champions, I took the title from all of them. Now I do what I want.”
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He certainly can do so, as he has earned the right to do whatever he wants. Is the move to cruiserweight a wise one for Alvarez’s career?
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