Whatstarted as a certainty in November 2021, is at the presentan unknown: who will be Canelo‘sopponent in his nextboxing fight? Alvarez’s team formallyrequested the WBC tochallengeits Cruiserweight Champion, however, this fight is not signed yet. Related to this topic, WBO 200 pounds’ChampionLawrence OkoliethinkstheMexican star shouldn’t invadehis weight division for hisown sake.
Jumping into another weight class is not a new matterfor the current Pound for Pound King. He has started his professional careerin 2005 as a Junior middleweight (140 lbs); since then, he has climbed up to the175 poundscategory, conquering World beltsin Superwelter, Middle, Super middle, and Light heavyweight.
If the fight against Ilunga Makabu is done and Canelo Alvarez succeedson his mission, he would be joininga selected group of legendsthat have won World titles in five differentweight classes. The most recent boxer that has been added to this list is mighty MannyPacmanPacquiao.
The reasons why Canelo could not triumph in the Cruiserweight division
Since March 2021, Lawrence Okolieis the WBO World Cruiserweight Champion. The British boxer is 17-0-0 (14 KO’s) and is defending histitle againstPolish Michal Cieslak in February. Nevertheless, if he maintains hiscrown and Canelo defeats Makabuhe does not expectto meet withAlvarez in the 200 lbs division cause he thinks the Mexicanmight not be able to compete in that weight.
“He and Makabu is actually an interesting fight that makes you go ‘oh, who do I favor in that one?’ I’m realistic and I just can’t see me and Canelo fighting, I’d be so shocked if they wanted that fight. Not because they’re scared or anything but just the height difference, the weight difference, the strength it’s just too much“, stated Okolie according toBoxing Scene.
Also, for the London nativeChampion, of 6′ 5″ tall, even Canelo may have proven to be the ongoing best fighterof the world, there are limits that he can not surpass: “He’s probably the best in the world at the moment, a very talented fighter, butthere arejust limitations to the human body. That is that someone who weighs in 200-pounds vs someone who’s able to weigh in at 168-pounds, not to mention what they are on the day. It would be nice for my bank account and of course my legacy, but I just can’t see it happening personally“.
Lawrence Okolie’s height allows him to think of a future adventure at the Heavyweight division. ( Julian Finney/Getty Images)
