Fans See David Benavidez As Next Canelo

Munguia’s biggest problem is that the super middleweight division is full of dangerous fighters that fans expect him to face before anyone accepts him as the subsequent Mexican superstar.

Osleys Iglesias, Christian Mbilli, Diego Pacheco, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Benavidez are all viewed as legitimate threats at 168 or nearby weight classes. Unlike Canelo, Munguia doesn’t have years of built-in popularity or an extended championship run to guard him from criticism if he avoids those sorts of fights.

That reality became even tougher after Munguia’s knockout loss to Bruno Surace in December 2024. Although Munguia avenged the defeat, critics still view the primary fight as a significant red flag because Surace was seen as a manageable opponent on the time.

Munguia later returned to defeat Armando Resendiz for the WBA belt earlier this month, but many fans still don’t see his record as strong enough to position him ahead of Benavidez because the likely successor to Canelo.

The discussion may only grow louder depending on what happens on September 12, when Canelo returns against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh. Mbilli is younger, aggressive, throws nonstop mixtures, and is viewed by many fans as one of the crucial dangerous fighters at 168. A loss for Canelo would likely speed up the controversy over who really becomes the subsequent major Mexican star in boxing.