With the year drawing to a close and next year’s schedule falling into place, the lower divisions are looking pretty sharp. But that doesn’t mean upper echelons are sulking in silence.
The crosshairs still feature the Usyk-Fury rematch. Reports suggest moves heralding potential shake-ups at the light heavyweight and super middleweight divisions.
In the 175 lbs division, the decks are cleared for the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Following their high-octane duel on October 12, the duo will team up for yet another dance. But it appears that the winner of the face-off will have a short time to celebrate. He will be staring at a challenger. One division below, at the super middleweight, the main character still drives the plot. With the crown atop his head still intact, Canelo Alvarez could face yet another title claimant early next year. It’s possible he may meet a familiar face.
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Reportedly the WBC has taken a few critical decisions. First, a challenger for the winner of the bout between Beterbiev and Bivol. The two are now ready for yet another big showdown in Riyadh. Many consider the February 22 mega card as the greatest in boxing history. A string of exciting matches includes the likes of Daniel Dubois, Shakur Stevenson, and Vergil Ortiz Jr. defending their titles.
But before the fight, on February 1, at the T-Mobile Arena, David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. will meet. A final title eliminator, the bout for Benavidez’s WBC interim light heavyweight title and Morrell Jr.’s regular WBA belt, will clear the path to challenge the winner of the Artur Beterbiev–Dmitry Bivol match, it seems.
A close perusal suggests a win-win, crackerjack array of matchups. Be it Beterbiev vs. Benavidez or Bivol vs. Morrell Jr. or just the reverse, either way, the lineups will be something purists will look forward to.
Given it already has a supremo reigning over it, the situation at the super middleweight might be slightly different, though.
On September 15, Canelo Alvarez defeated Edgar Berlanga during the year’s second title defense. Though no longer an undisputed champion, he still remains a formidable force to reckon with. It may be difficult to dislodge the Mexican superstar; nevertheless, the WBC has taken measures to dry-run a test. Date and venue details are yet to be confirmed; however, there will be a fight between Jaime Munguia and Christian M’billi for the WBC ‘interim’ super middleweight title. The winner stands a chance to dare Alvarez as the mandatory challenger.
If he wins, Munguia, who will face the year’s fourth opponent on December 14, will be walking into a rematch. Early in May, he lost the title challenge to Alvarez on the Cinco de Mayo fixture. Nevertheless, he still retains the WBC silver super middleweight belt.
On the other hand, unbeaten M’billi defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko to retain the WBC Continental Americas Championship. The ambitious Cameroonian-French fighter dreams of a shot at facing Canelo Alvarez, making the Munguia fight the opportunity he’s been waiting for. A win over the granite-chinned Munguia could bring him closer to his much-coveted dream.
