As 2024 unfolds, the race to meet Canelo Alvarez in the boxing ring also intensifies. The undisputed champion of 168 pounds has a long list of potential suitors. While some have been chasing him for years, others have jumped on the bandwagon recently. Then there are fans’ fragments of imagination. You can throw Terence Crawford in the mix, and it brews into a perfect boxing dream. But there are two contenders at the forefront, trying to edge out each other.

Jaime Munguia and Jermall Charlo are the two names that have been popping up along with Alvarez recently. While one is the future of the division, the other is a champion with adventurous intent and money on his mind. So who is the one to pipe the other to book a date with the super middleweight champion on the May 4 card?

Jermall Charlo vs. Canelo Alvarez: Flavor of revenge and a contract to force it

Why is WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, 33, on the list in the first place? He and Alvarez once hanged around the same division, reigned as champions at 154 pounds in 2016, and came close to signing a deal. But that never materialized. However, a fight between them was always a matter of time. Moreover, there is a revenge angle to their old story now.

Last September, the Mexican champion handed a sound beating to Jermell Charlo. Since then, talks of a potential retribution match with Alvarez have gained traction. The revenge story is sure to sell well and will do hefty business for the PBC. In addition, Alvarez would comfortably sail through with little trouble and keep his stocks intact.

Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, had already specified that the fight with the elder of the Charlo twins was always on the cards. That’s the fight they wanted before they signed the PBC deal. Lastly, the fans might recall that there is already a contract signed between the two. Ever since Jermall Charlo made his return against Jose Benavidez Jr., the fight with Alvarez was set in motion. But fans would prefer someone from the ranks and not an outsider, someone like Jaime Munguia.

Jaime Munguia: Potential star destined for a title fight next

Jaime Munguia is the star in the making at 168 pounds; at least that’s what Oscar De La Hoya believes. The 27-year-old is slated to face John Ryder next on January 27. If Munguia’s punches can break down the Brit and knock him out, he might punch his name on the golden ticket to the Canelo Alvarez fight.

The Mexican fighter, at 42-0, needs to win the fight spectacularly to seize the champion’s attention. A win will ensure he fights big names next. But a knockout win against the 35-year-old Ryder, whom the champion couldn’t drop, might do the trick. Munguia has already exhibited his ability to slay champions after he outpointed Sergiy Derevyanchenko in his last fight.

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Golden Boy Promotions’ hope for a fight with Alvarez hinges on Munguia’s ability to produce a magnificent performance. Still, other factors are beyond their control. Munguia is still a name removed from prominence and might not pull the PPV buys that interest Alvarez’s camp. Undoubtedly, Munguia belongs to the championship level, but not yet at the level where Alvarez picks him instead of others. So where does it leave the fans regarding Alvarez’s future in 2024?

Calling shots: Canelo Alvarez’s two opponents in 2024

Between Jermall Charlo and Jaime Munguia, Alvarez’s camp would gladly pick Charlo. All signs also indicate a lucrative showdown between Charlo and Alvarez in May for the latter’s annual Cinco de Mayo fight. But that leaves us with his other opponent in the dark for his September bout.

Enter David Benavidez. That’s the fight every fan wants to see made this year. The fight will sell like fire and will do blockbuster business for the PBC. Meanwhile, Alvarez’s September fight also holds the key to his future, as his PBC contract expires along with that fight. He wants to pull numbers so that he can sit at the negotiation table with more power. Therefore, both PBC and Alvarez will probably use Charlo’s fight as the buildup to the Benavidez fight.

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What do you make of the chances of Jermall Charlo and Jaime Munguia fighting Canelo Alvarez? Who do you think will fight Alvarez next? Let us know in the comments below.