Saul “Canelo” Alvarez cruised to a conclusive win on Saturday, n in Riyadh to seal s after a 13-month layoff exterior of the ring.
At age 36, greater than 20 years into his skilled profession, “Canelo” has nonetheless solely been overwhelmed by the game’s greatest fighters.
Terence Crawford, now retired, was the final to take action in 2025, following Dmitry Bivol three years earlier. Each defeated the Mexican star by determination.
However this previous weekend, “Canelo” confirmed he has greater than sufficient left in his fistic arsenal to outclass the world’s greatest, at the same time as he nears the tip of his in-ring run.
So, what’s subsequent for boxing’s largest star?
A struggle between “Canelo” and David Benavidez stays one of many largest bouts the game may e-book. It’s at all times appeared unrealistic, however now could be a non-starter, contemplating coach Eddy Reynoso’s feedback that the matchup is now lifeless >.
With Benavidez now being a unified cruiserweight world champion, there’s an excessive amount of of a gulf in weight between the division Benavidez is ready to defend his WBA and WBO unified titles in (200 kilos), and the one “Canelo” fought in over the weekend (168 kilos).
Then there are different fighters linked with “Canelo” who additionally seem farther from preventing him as we speak than they ever have earlier than — like Jake Paul.
“The Drawback Youngster” not too long ago introduced his return to the ring for Dec. 24, > at Coca-Cola Enviornment in Dubai.
Although Netflix would possible have an interest, the prospect of “Canelo” vs. Paul stays sufficient of a gimmick to be at odds with the place Alvarez is at proper now — that’s, a championship-level fighter able to taking over unification fights, slightly than carnival ones that function a stepping stone towards retirement.
With that in thoughts, let’s break down the highest names probably to step into the ring in opposition to “Canelo” subsequent, ranked from mere pipe desires to surefire potentialities.
7. Terence Crawford rematch
“Canelo” may, someday, be capable of lure Terence Crawford out of retirement, however it’s uncertain that day is any time quickly.
It’s the struggle Canelo seems to covet most; > on Saturday “let’s hope” Crawford cuts his retirement quick to have interaction him in a do-over, now that he has the WBC belt again in his possession. "We'd like to have that rematch," Canelo mentioned.
It’s additionally a rematch Canelo’s longtime coach/supervisor Reynoso needs for his fighter. “If Crawford returns, let's make the rematch occur,” >.
“As a coach, I can see the modifications that we have to make for the Crawford rematch and for the outcomes to go our means,” Reynoso mentioned.
The struggle is reliant on Crawford feeling the urge to threat his flawless report for one final dance. However it could come at a time when “Canelo” can solely provide one of many world titles “Bud” already beforehand gained — and at a time when s relating to fighter pay.
If “Canelo” gained extra of the belts at tremendous middleweight, or defeated unified gentle heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in a rematch, or may provide a extra substantial fee than what Crawford obtained for the primary struggle, then this bout would grow to be likelier.
Luckily for “Canelo,” at the very least, he has different choices. "If not [Crawford], we'll hold shifting ahead with our profession,” he mentioned Saturday.
6. Chris Eubank Jr. at London’s Wembley Stadium
One of many different choices might be a longstanding one, however a struggle in opposition to British tremendous middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. ranks low on this checklist due to how light Eubank regarded in his 2025 rematch with Conor Benn.
Had Eubank gained the Benn rivalry 2-0, he’d have carried appreciable narrative momentum into any declare that solely he holds the stadium keys to assist “Canelo” unlock the profitable UK gate and pay-per-view markets.
Eubank additionally appears extra prone to compete in opposition to a lesser fighter like > proper now, slightly than the game’s final marquee identify, even when BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom as soon as described a Canelo-Eubank Jr. struggle as >
A world tour may attraction to a star like “Canelo,” with different North American names like Errol Spence Jr. getting their moments with struggle followers in the UK. Spence, after all, made Kell Brook look common in an Eleventh-round knockout win in 2017.
If Eubank is now not an choice, “Canelo” may contemplate Benn at a catchweight, and even Ben Whittaker at gentle heavyweight. However whether or not any of them stay stadium fighters stays to be seen.
5. Osleys Iglesias for IBF title unification
The tough Cuban southpaw Osleys Iglesias is determined to check himself in opposition to “Canelo.” And, because the IBF tremendous middleweight champion, he brings a world title to the ring for Alvarez to aim to annex and grow to be a unified beltholder as soon as once more.
“I’d hope that [‘Canelo’] would give me the struggle and permit me to exhibit that Cuban fighters, and extra particularly that Osleys Iglesias, is a special breed,” > earlier this yr.
He’s not assured of it taking place, although. “Canelo wouldn’t need to struggle me,” he mentioned.
And Iglesias could also be proper.
Out of all of the world championship unification potentialities, he can be the best threat, contemplating his counterpunching rhythm and the ability he has in each of his fists. The danger additionally contrasts his comparatively restricted business attraction.
4. Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Jacob Financial institution winner for WBO title unification
Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Financial institution are scheduled to contest the vacant WBO tremendous middleweight world title on Jan. 23, 2027, at The Discussion board in Horsens, Denmark. And the winner might be a consideration for “Canelo” later subsequent yr.
The WBO belt is at the moment vacant as a result of p slightly than proceed with a compulsory protection in opposition to Janibek, who was beforehand the WBO's champion at middleweight.
Alimkhanuly is a southpaw, has confirmed championship pedigree, and would make for a authentic technical problem for “Canelo.” He’s additionally a extra established identify than Financial institution.
The WBO title makes both fighter a horny unification opponent, however neither presents the legacy attraction, business upside, or promotional benefits of others on this checklist.
3. Dmitry Bivol rematch
“Canelo” could have gained the WBO gentle heavyweight title after knocking Sergey Kovalev out within the Eleventh spherical of his debut at 175 kilos in 2019, however his return to the load class three years later was not as profitable, dropping by determination to Dmitry Bivol.
The Kyrgyzstani-Russian boxer nullified “Canelo” together with his feints and the usage of his triple jab, which he fired repeatedly all through their Las Vegas encounter.
It was Bivol's most vital win of his profession as much as that time, although he went on to outpoint Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez that very same yr, earlier than scoring a majority determination win over Artur Beterbiev of their 2025 rematch.
Bivol has intimated that he’d fortunately struggle “Canelo” once more, suggesting he’d even achieve this at 168 kilos. This may guarantee there have been “no excuses” if he beat Alvarez once more, he mentioned, this time within the legend’s most well-liked division.
“Canelo,” although, has stubbornly mentioned he needs to rematch Bivol in the identical gentle heavyweight division to attempt to proper the report.
2. Lester Martinez in Mexico for WBC consolidation
Bivol doesn’t rank greater on this checklist as a result of it’s unlikely, judging from Group Canelo’s personal feedback, that they’ll return to 175 kilos so quickly.
“We're going to remain at tremendous middleweight for now,” >. “The division is heating up, and we are able to actually keep busy there for the foreseeable future.”
If Alvarez was to stay at 168 kilos, for now, one of many clearest candidates for a struggle can be Lester Martinez, the WBC’s interim champion, who was ringside on Saturday to look at the common WBC championship change fingers.
A struggle with Martinez doesn’t solely clear up the WBC championship scenario, it may be the bout that leads “Canelo” again to Mexico. He final fought in his personal nation in 2023, when he beat John Ryder in entrance of fifty,000 folks on the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
“Canelo” vs. Martinez may draw an identical if not greater crowd if Alvarez pursues his dream of preventing on the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis — a venue with an 80,000 seating capability, which as soon as held 132,000 followers for a Julio Cesar Chavez struggle in 1993.
1. Hamzah Sheeraz in Riyadh
With one struggle remaining on “Canelo’s” settlement with Saudi Arabia, there could also be no higher opponent than Hamzah Sheeraz, contemplating Turki Alalshikh’s allegiance to each fighters.
A Riyadh Season ambassador, Sheeraz has fought on three Saudi-backed playing cards — his Eleventh-round knockout win over Austin Williams in 2024, his cut up draw with Carlos Adames the next yr, and his majority determination win over Simon Zachenhuber this previous July.
His greatest efficiency so far is undoubtedly r — a consequence that led Alalshikh to proclaim: "Hamzah now deserves ‘Canelo’ in 2026."
With “Canelo's” Saudi Arabia settlement nearing its conclusion, and Alalshikh already endorsing the matchup, Sheeraz stands out as the most obvious opponent to struggle him subsequent.
