Canelo Alvarez fights Edgar Berlanga – not David Benavidez – for one simple reason

It's amazing that some people in the boxing business believe Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is afraid of his opponents.

According to a recent issue of Forbes magazine, Alvarez is the richest and most successful boxer in the world. His income is expected to reach $85 million in 2024. His net worth is estimated at $275 million.

In the last 15 years he has fought 30 of the best boxers in the world, losing only twice and winning a total of 61 fights. In the last four years he has fought five very good men with undefeated records. In May, in his last fight, he lost years to a younger and bigger man, defeating a fellow Mexican on points: Jaime Munguia, who was undefeated in 43 fights.

On Saturday at T-Mobile in Las Vegas – a venue that will forever be associated with Alvarez's sensational nights – he defends his two world super middleweight titles when he faces Puerto Rican Edgar Berlanga, who is five years younger and unbeaten in 22 fights with 17 knockouts. Yet, amazingly, critics accuse Alvarez of avoiding men, choosing his victims and dictating terms. Well, here's a boxing reality check: Alvarez has done enough for the sport and for the sport to do what it wants. It's really that simple.

The IBF, one of the four recognized sanctioning bodies, recently stripped Alvarez of his belt because he refused to agree to terms or even consider a fight with Cuban-born but Berlin-based William Scull. That would have been a foolish move, a fight that nobody wants to see. No offense to Scull, but he hasn't fought anyone of note yet. He will presumably fight for the vacant IBF super middleweight title. The crazy thing is that nobody is buying a ticket or the pay-per-view on Saturday because Alvarez is risking his WBO and WBC belts – they are paying to see Alvarez, their idol. In the current climate, the sanctioning bodies need to be aware of their future role.

The IBF did something equally ridiculous a few months ago when it threatened to strip Oleksandr Usyk of his title after he unified all four heavyweight belts in his fight against Tyson Fury. Usyk handled the issue with class, handing the belt over to Daniel Dubois, who held the interim version at the time. Now Dubois will defend the full version against Anthony Joshua on September 21 at Wembley in front of 96,000 spectators. Usyk has the upper hand, having beaten both men.

There have been calls for Alvarez to face a formidable opponent named David Benavidez, and that would be sensational. Alvarez is demanding a purse of over $100,000 million for the fight and is, it seems, getting closer and closer to that goal. Eddie Hearn, who promotes Berlanga but has worked very closely with Alvarez over the past four years, believes money is the simple key to getting Alvarez in the ring against Benavidez. “Canelo is not afraid of anyone, he just wants to get paid,” Hearn said.

In recent weeks, Turki Al-Sheikh, the man behind the Saudi boxing revolution, has talked about organizing an Alvarez fight; he has the money to do it. And that often means it will happen. It must be noted, however, that Al-Sheikh is no fan of the sanctioning bodies.

Meanwhile, another dangerous man will try to end Alvarez's truly remarkable career on Saturday night. Berlanga has the power and motivation to pull off an upset, but so have many undefeated men in recent years. Alvarez finds a way to get what he wants on both sides of the ropes.