Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has confirmed his return to the ring for September 12 in Saudi Arabia, nearly a year after losing his undisputed super-middleweight titles to Terence Crawford. The bout will headline a card titled “Mexico Against the World,” as the Mexican star looks to begin a new chapter following defeat and surgery.
Alvarez, now 35, has been recovering from elbow surgery and admitted the time away was necessary. “I wish I were just days away from fighting, but… I had to take care of my body and my injuries,” he said, explaining that lingering issues had built up over time. He added that the recovery period has paid off, saying he now feels “extremely good and happy.”
While an opponent has not been finalized, Canelo made it clear he is targeting a world champion. “There’s a range of rivals there, let’s see who’s the best, but always choosing the best, and above all, that he’s a champion,” he said. Discussions involving Richard Schaefer and Turki Alalshikh are ongoing as they finalize the matchup.
WBC champion Christian Mbilli has emerged as a frontrunner for the fight, particularly after being elevated to full champion following Crawford’s retirement. With no mandatory challenger in place and Canelo ranked highly, the matchup represents a direct route back to world title status.
Other options remain across the division, with Jose Armando Resendiz holding the WBA title, Osleys Iglesias recently claiming the IBF belt, and the WBO title set to be decided between Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic in May.
Image Credit: Sky Sports