Mike Tyson Why Canelo Faces Berlanga, Afraid of Benavidez?

Duel Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga not only inviting the attention of world boxing fans. Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson also commented on the fight for the WBC and WBO super middleweight championship belts at the T-Mobile Arena, September 14, 2024 (local time).

Canelo returns to the ring for the second time this year. Fighting on Mexico’s Independence Day, the reigning champion will face an undefeated Puerto Rican.

Ahead of the fight, Tyson was actually surprised why Canelo faced Berlanga. He seemed reluctant to say that Canelito was afraid of facing a boxer like David Benavidez.

Benavidez was one of the boxers considered as an ideal opponent for Canelo. But surprisingly he chose Berlanga.

“I can’t believe what I just heard, Canelo turned down $60 million to fight Benavidez, who is a great fighter, young, strong, with hunger and Mexican pride. What’s wrong with Canelo? Is he afraid to lose? Doesn’t he want to give the fans the fight they want to see?” Tyson was quoted as saying by SPORTbible, Saturday (14/9/2024).

“Don’t you want to give the fans the fights they want to see? Don’t you respect the legacy of the great Mexican champions who faced the best without regard for money?”

Tyson then criticized Canelo, saying it was an embarrassment for Mexican boxing. “If I were him (Canelo), I would accept the fight with Benavidez and show the world that he is the best. But it seems he doesn’t have the courage to do it. It’s a shame because he has a lot of talent but he lacks passion,” Tyson regretted.

Tyson isn’t the only one to criticize Canelo for avoiding big fights. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh also claimed that Canelo is avoiding tough fights with Benavidez and Terrence Crawford.

In his post on X, Alalshikh wrote: “Regarding the way I do business, I know why he [Canelo] don’t like it, because I only target big fights at fair prices, so of course anyone who likes easy fights won’t like it. I’m not someone who is afraid of fighting Benavidez or Crawford.”

(fly)