Sun Sep 15 17:30:11 UTC 2024: ## Berlanga’s “Shortcut” to Canelo Rematch Backfires: IBF Title Win Won’t Guarantee a Second Payday
Edgar Berlanga, coming off a lopsided loss to Canelo Alvarez, has revealed a plan to secure a rematch: win the vacant IBF super middleweight title. However, boxing analysts are calling his strategy a “sneaky, weasel-like” attempt at a quick payday.
Berlanga’s logic is simple: win the IBF title, become “undisputed” champion, and force Canelo’s hand. But critics are quick to point out that Berlanga’s proposed path – fighting the IBF’s current #1 and #2 contenders, William Scull and Vladimir Shishkin – wouldn’t boost his popularity or guarantee a rematch. Scull and Shishkin are relatively unknown to U.S. audiences, and defeating them wouldn’t change the public perception of Berlanga as a “punching bag” against Canelo.
“The U.S. boxing public doesn’t care as much about titles. They want to see great fights,” one expert stated. “Berlanga needs to do much more than just win the IBF title to get a rematch with the Mexican star.”
Moreover, Canelo has no financial incentive to fight Berlanga again. Their first match was a one-sided affair, and a rematch wouldn’t generate the same interest or revenue. Experts suggest Berlanga needs to prove himself against top contenders like David Benavidez, David Morrell, or Artur Beterbiev to earn a rematch with Canelo, not take a “shortcut” by fighting relatively unknown opponents.
Berlanga, however, remains hopeful. “I know he’ll [Canelo] give me an opportunity,” Berlanga stated. “It would be a great fight.”
While a Berlanga-Canelo rematch might appeal to some fans, boxing analysts see it as a risky proposition for Canelo, and a potentially misleading strategy for Berlanga. He’ll need to prove himself against the top fighters before a rematch with Canelo is even considered a possibility.
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