A big shakeup in the 168 and 175-pound divisions. For good reasons, David Benavidez seems to have made it clear that he’s not going back to the super middleweight. Instead, he prefers to observe the outcome of the October 21 clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Benavidez has now ascended to the status of mandatory challenger, effectively ending his prolonged callout of Canelo Alvarez—at least for the time being.

So, what’s next for the Mexican superstar? According to information ESPN has obtained from its sources, the undisputed champion is poised to finalize another title defense. His next opponent? The WBA’s mandatory challenger, Edgar Berlanga.

The bout is tentatively scheduled for the weekend before Mexican Independence Day, September 14. However, the excitement doesn’t end there. Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena is emerging as the most likely venue. Yet, there’s a chance that Alvarez’s title defense might coincide with Dana White‘s high-profile UFC 306 at the ‘Sphere’. Will either blockbuster event adjust its date, or will fans face the dilemma of choosing which venue to miss?

ESPN veteran Mike Coppinger tweeted, “Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s top star, is in the process of finalizing a deal for a super middleweight championship defense vs. Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN.” He mentioned that the boxing match and UFC 306 might occur simultaneously.

Coppinger followed up with another post, highlighting the promotional and broadcast arrangements for the Canelo Alvarez fight. He shared an update on a potential PBC-Matchroom collaboration, with Al Haymon’s PBC possibly leading the event’s promotions, while Edgar Berlanga might be aligned with Matchroom Boxing.

Much like the Alvarez-Jaime Munguia fight, the broadcast rights for this match may end up with Amazon Prime’s pay-per-view services and DAZN. Canelo Alvarez is the clear favorite to win, but the fight has the potential to increase its marketability by emphasizing the Mexican-Puerto Rican rivalry.

A brief glance at some comments that flew in shows that some of the fans aren’t too swayed by the prospect. Instead of challenging top contenders, they feel that Canelo Alvarez is selectively fighting opponents from the so-called ‘second tier’, thus maintaining his winning streak with minimal risk. Now, let’s examine the date and time.

In Tandem: Octagon and Squared Circle

Since its opening in September 2023, the Sphere has become Las Vegas’ premier venue for major events. It will host UFC 306, marking the promotion’s debut at the center. What makes this event even more special is that it will be the first time UFC welcomes an official ‘title sponsor partner.’ With Riyadh Season’s brand integrated into the event’s identity, UFC 306 has been rechristened as ‘Riyadh Season Noche UFC.’

Details surrounding the main fights of UFC 306 still remain under wraps. However, according to a story available on ‘Bloody Elbow’, it appears that the much-anticipated bouts between ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway, could be on the cards.

Thus, two major prestige showdowns are set to occur simultaneously. Fans will need to make a choice. Concerns may arise about whether direct competition for viewership and attendance will impact ticket sales, TV ratings, or overall interest in either event. Fans should stay tuned for further developments on the significant news in both boxing and MMA.

What are your thoughts on the Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga matchup? Do you believe the Mexican champion still has a chance against David Benavidez?