His recent victory over Dmitry Bivol, where he became the division’s first undisputed champion since Roy Jones Jr., solidified his status as one of boxing’s most dominant fighters. Many experts agree that only time might eventually stop “The Owl,” widely regarded as the sport’s most devastating puncher.

However, Ryan Garcia, the young Mexican boxer, has offered a bold perspective on Beterbiev’s strength and ability, particularly against Canelo Alvarez. His statement challenges the widespread perception of Beterbiev as an unbeatable force in the ring.

What Bold Prediction Did Garcia Make About a Potential Canelo vs. Beterbiev Fight?

After Beterbiev’s triumph over Bivol, Ryan Garcia surprised the boxing world with a bold three-word prediction shared on social media: “Canelo beats Beterbiev.”

Garcia’s statement caused quite a stir. Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion and former light heavyweight titleholder, is undeniably one of the greatest boxers of this generation. Yet, facing Beterbiev—with his relentless power and aggressive style—would represent an extraordinary challenge for any fighter.

An Uncertain Future for Canelo

Canelo has expressed interest in returning to the light heavyweight division but remains focused on a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, who defeated him in 2022. Meanwhile, Beterbiev is preparing for his own rematch against Bivol, scheduled for February 22, in what promises to be one of the most anticipated fights of the year.

Garcia’s statement adds a fascinating layer of intrigue to the ongoing debate about these two formidable champions. Could Canelo overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenge posed by Beterbiev? Can his skill and resilience prevail against the raw power of the Russian-Canadian fighter? Only time will reveal the answers.

The Russian boxer, who holds the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO light-heavyweight world titles, wrote on his Instagram account just a day after the fight against Tyson: “@jakepaul what can you do in the ring against the current undisputed champion? You just have to know that I’m always open to any suggestion.”

Now, in a conversation with Seconds Out, Berterbiev has explained his reasoning: “In boxing, for a long time I have had my favorite boxers and they are Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, and Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson and my first reaction was to want revenge,” he said, according to Marca.

While he admits he regretted doing so, he maintains his offer: “If he wants to, then yes, but I do not think he wants to fight me … I think I would show him boxing.” While Paul didn’t reply to his challenge directly, he did take the opportunity to brag about his new status in the boxing world.

“I just saw this… top five pound-for-pound fighter in the world calling me out. Hahahaha. 4 years in and I run this sport,” Paul posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Nov. 17. To which, Beterbiev replied: “After four years it’s time to have serious challenges. Didn’t notice your acceptance or rejection. So what are we gonna do?”

Paul has been called out by different boxers

Apart from Beterbiev, Paul has also received challenges from current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. However, it seems like former middleweight champion Cesar Chavez Jr. son of Julio Cesar Chavez, could be his next rival.

“It’s an option, we’re looking into it, let’s see, this week I have a meeting,” Chavez Jr. told TUDN. “I’d be interested in fighting a champion, but fighting Jake Paul for the fame and the media would put me in a position to fight against others. I’m not looking for it, it’s been presented. It’s not concrete, but let’s see what happens,” he added.

On the other hand, female undefeated WBC, WBF and WBO female light heavyweight world champion Claressa Shields also called out Paul, stating that he doesn’t have the “skills” to beat her in the ring.

In one of the biggest surprises of the year, Bivol not only retained his WBA World Light heavyweight title, but gave Canelo a boxing lesson and knocked him off the top of the list of the best boxers in the world pound-for-pound. A hard blow for the Mexican.

Once he has assimilated the blow he received, Alvarez seeks to return to the top of boxing with a victory against Gennady Golovkin, his fiercest rival, whom he will face for the third time in his career, in a fight scheduled for September 17, with probable location in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the T-Mobile Arena. For his part, Dmitry Bivol would be in the process of confirming his next opponent as soon as possible.

The greatness of Beterbiev vs Smith Jr that was taken away from Canelo Alvarez

The table was apparently set for Canelo Alvarez to irremediably enter boxing’s Olympus. After being proclaimed the first Undisputed World Super middleweight Champion in history, his route to greatness was to strip Bivol of the WBA version of the 175-pound world championship and then seek an unparalleled feat: to unify in that division as well.

That’s where the Artur Beterbiev vs Joe Smith Jr. fight comes into the equation. This June 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York, the Russian and the American will put their Light heavyweight division world championship belts on the line: WBC and IBF (Beterbiev) and WBO (Smith Jr.).

The winner of this train wreck would be the 175 unified World Champion, with only one belt left to become Undisputed, the WBA belt, currently held by Dmitry Bivol, and which was expected to be held by Canelo Alvarez. Now it is Bivol who has raised his hand to face the winner of the Beterbiev vs Smith Jr to become the absolute monarch of this category.

The smell of dynamite and drama is intense at Madison Square Garden. Artur Beterbiev comes into this unification bout with 17 fights under his belt, all won by knockout. Crazy. For his part, Joe Smith Jr, comes in with a record of 28-3-0, and 22 knockouts, irrefutable proof that his size gives him a very respectable knockout power in his fights.

On 2021, Canelo simply cleaned up the Super middleweight division: after taking Callum Smith‘s belt on December 2020, he schooled the turkish bum Avni Yildirim; silenced the trash talk of Billy Joe Saunders with a fracture of his orbital cheekbone, and made Caleb Plant suffer the first KO on hiscareer. It is almost unanimus on boxing family: he is the Pound for Pound king right now.

What would Saúl Álvarez need to do not to only maintain himself on the top of hill? On his short horizon, there is a huge challenge: become the first mexican to win a championship on the Cruiserweight division, but: is there something else Canelo could do to turn 2022 into the best year of his career? Let’s offer him an ambitious plan.

Canelo’s route to be a roaring success on 2022

February: the year must start soon for Álvarez.He will need to embrace the rush to achieve the goal. Taking advantage of the cancelation of hisscheduled fight on December in Japan, Gennadiy Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs)could be the better way to begin the 2022.

If in the equation are combined a huge rivalry, such as Canelo vs GGG, and a very expected comeback to his country, the result could not be other than greatness. The pride of Guadalajara could put a solid end to the war with Golovkin, if he defeats him in front of his warm mexican fans.

May: another step into inmortality. After Eddy Reinoso‘s, Canelo’s manager and trainer,formal petition on the WBC Convention in Mexico, the whole world of boxing confirmed what a few imagined as a crazy dream:Saúl Álvarez trying togeta belt on a fifth division, the Cruiserweight.

The congolese Ilunga Junior Makabu (28-2-0, 25 KOs) is supposed to expose his WBC Cruiserweight World Championship against the mexican star. He “just” needs to defeat firstThabiso Mchunu, the mandatory rival of the division, in a bout scheduled on January 29. Be it Makabu or Mchunu, the challenge is huge for Canelo because of the height and weight difference: jump from 168 lbs to the limit of 200 lbs.

September: twice is better than once. Álvarez would have a few recovery time but it would be well worth it. Many of boxing fans and experts think the Pound for Pound king should try to conquer the Light heavyweight division instead of dreaming with the Cruiserweight. Time to please them.

Artur Beterbiev, the russian lion, is a really tough opponent: 16 pro fights, all won by the way of knockout, and current WBC and IBF Lightheavyweight Champion of the World. With 36 years above, Beterbiev would be delighted to risk his belts against Canelo for the biggest payday of his life. A really difficult one for the mexican.

December: a Christmas gift for boxing fans. If conquering belts, divisions and records is not enough for Álvarez, why not to try to invade new markets? Saúl has said many times that he would love to fight outside the US territory.

The perfect stage is Japan, where local star Ryota Murata could represent a nice test for Canelo’s skills. Just as Rocky won russian’s people love defeating Ivan Drago,the mexican star would try overcome not only Murata but the thorny asian crowd and judges.