Canelo On Mbilli Fight And Potential Retirement

Canelo Alvarez will not hang up the gloves after his October showdown with Christian Mbilli, according to Bad Left Hook managing editor Scott Christ. Asked whether the Mbilli bout could mark Canelo's final appearance, Christ said the Mexican star would likely continue regardless of the outcome. If Canelo wins, he fights on; if he loses, Christ expects a farewell bout back home in Guadalajara against an opponent Canelo would be heavily favored to beat.

The bigger question is what version of Canelo shows up against Mbilli. Christ said he remains torn on the matchup as the October date approaches. Canelo is 36 with a thick neck and sound fundamentals, but time has extracted a toll. "He's not who he was even a few years ago, certainly not who he was at his absolute peak, and that guy's never coming back," Christ wrote. "He's pretty naturally and normally regressed, and I think that he's probably more physically declined than he lets on or allows to get into the media."

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Benavidez Targeting Cieslak Before Opetaia

David Benavidez will reportedly face WBC cruiserweight mandatory challenger Lukasz Cieslak before a potential Cinco de Mayo weekend clash with Jai Opetaia in 2027. Christ said he believes the WBC ordered the Cieslak fight because both sides intend to honor it, noting that a turned-down mandate makes the sanctioning body or the fighter look bad. Benavidez appeared well above 200 pounds after his recent victory, meaning much of his next camp will center on weight management. The Cieslak bout gives Benavidez another training cycle to sharpen up before the Opetaia showdown.

On whether Benavidez vs Opetaia actually lands on Cinco de Mayo weekend, Christ said yes. He expects Zuffa Boxing to muscle into that premium date by locking in the fight early, forcing even Canelo to cede the slot. If the matchup happens as planned, Christ sees May 2027 belonging to either Canelo or Benavidez vs Opetaia.

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Elsewhere in the mailbag, Christ addressed Ryan Garcia's future with Golden Boy Promotions. Garcia has one fight remaining on his current deal, but Christ doubts the partnership ends there. Despite a love-hate dynamic with Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia has repeatedly re-signed with the promotion. "They're too similar as people," Christ wrote. "They are both attention hounds with diva tendencies." That clash of egos makes for a rocky relationship, but Garcia keeps coming back. Christ also pegged a Terence Crawford comeback as 50-50, saying the money would need to be massive and a Ryan Garcia fight makes more financial sense than Jaron Ennis.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — Boxing Mailbag: Canelo’s return, David Benavidez’s growing haters, Ryan Garcia and Oscar, more