Get ready for a boxing showdown that’s already sparking debates! Canelo Alvarez is back in the ring on September 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking his traditional Mexican Independence Weekend fight. But here’s where it gets controversial: his opponent remains a mystery, though Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh promises it’ll be a world title bout. And this is the part most people miss—the belt and division are still up in the air, leaving fans and analysts guessing. Could Canelo reclaim one of the super middleweight titles he lost to Terence Crawford last September? Or will he chase a different crown entirely?
After Crawford’s retirement, the boxing world splintered. The WBA crowned Jose Armando Resendiz as champion, but the WBC, IBF, and WBO opted for vacant title fights. The IBF initially tried to pair Canelo with Osleys Iglesias, but he declined, still recovering from elbow surgery. Jaime Munguia also passed, leaving Pavel Silyagin as a potential contender. Yet, with bigger names in play, this route seems unlikely.
Meanwhile, Hamzah Sheeraz is caught in a tug-of-war, ordered by both the WBO and WBC to fight for their titles against Diego Pacheco and Christian Mbilli, respectively. Sheeraz was once rumored as Canelo’s opponent for his Riyadh Season deal, and if he secures a belt, he could still be in the running. But here’s the twist: a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, who outclassed Canelo in 2022, remains a tantalizing possibility. Canelo himself has expressed a burning desire to avenge that loss, stating, ‘I need to show I’m a better fighter than him.’
Is Canelo biting off more than he can chew? Or is this the redemption arc we’ve all been waiting for? Let’s not forget his candid admission: ‘I was at 50% of my abilities in that fight.’ Does this justify a rematch, or is it just an excuse? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over!
