Canelo must think bigger for his legacy

SAUL ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is in the prime of his fighting life and seemingly keen to make up for lost time.

The defence of his WBA super middleweight title against Avni Yildirim in Miami came just eight weeks after the dismantling of Callum Smith.

Billy Joe Saunders is next in the danger zone in May, with two further dates being considered this year.

The question is who can give him a proper test? Saunders is more of a threat than Yildirim but ultimately he is a blown-up middleweight.

A unification with IBF champion Caleb Plant is a good fight at 168. And if he wants to stay at super middleweight David Benavidez would be a real mano-a-mano showdown.

Benavidez is a volume puncher, as tough as nails. Plant is tricky, smart and fast. And he’s big for the weight.

He sparred George Groves in Shawn Porter’s gym in the States. He is perhaps the biggest problem for Canelo, if there is one, in the 168lb division. The real hero stuff would be to jump back up to light heavyweight.

Sergey Kovalev is already a notch on his belt. IBF/WBC champion Artur Beterbiev would be some contest. WBA champion Demetrius Bivol another. Beterbiev is a gunslinger.

Though only 5ft 8ins it looks like Canelo is done at middleweight, so if Gennady Golovkin is to re-enter the frame he will have to move up.

Only Floyd Mayweather Jnr has got the better of Canelo, in 2013.

For the real masterclass he needs to be challenged, and for that, arguably, he will have to go up to 175lbs. He is already one of the greatest Mexican fighters in history.

When he eventually calls it a day even the great Julio Cesar Chavez might have to doff his cap.

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