Canelo not operating from automatic authority
“At this point, Canelo must prove to the those who he’s a champion,” Diaz said.
The comment reflects the fact created by Crawford’s victory. For years, Canelo controlled the division and chosen opponents from a position of authority. That modified the moment Crawford moved up in weight and beat him. The result shifted the burden back onto Canelo, forcing him right into a position where he must re-establish himself through performance fairly than popularity.
Diaz pointed to Dmitry Bivol because the variety of opponent that may immediately command attention, referencing their previous fight and the unresolved nature of that loss.
“A fight that is sensible will probably be a rematch against Bivol,” Diaz said. “People would like to see a rematch against Dmitry Bivol. That’s an interesting fight.”
Even without that rematch, Canelo’s next opponent will carry significance. He is predicted to face WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in September, a younger fighter entering his prime and widely considered one of the crucial dangerous contenders within the division. The fight represents a special sort of test, one where the end result will directly influence how Canelo’s current level is viewed.
Diaz also acknowledged that Canelo’s profession has reached a degree where every decision now affects how he’s remembered.
“The business of the game has something planned for Canelo to return back,” Diaz said.
Canelo built his position over greater than a decade of victories across multiple weight classes, but that position is not any longer protected by history alone. What happens next will determine whether he stays a part of the division’s present or becomes a part of its past, and at once, he looks like a fighter who has to earn his authority again.