Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez no longer has a world title to his name, but he still has plenty of options ahead of his return to the ring later this year.
Canelo’s reign at super-middleweight was nothing short of legendary, claiming all four titles in the division in less than 12 months by beating Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant.
After getting his hands on the undisputed crown, Alvarez lost for the first time in nine years when he faced Dmitry Bivol at light-heavyweight in May of 2022. When he returned to 168 later that year, he put together four defences of his titles, dropped one belt and then won it back.
However, against Terence Crawford last September, the Mexican icon was handed his first defeat at super-middleweight. He now faces returning not as champion but challenger, with WBC super-middleweight ruler Christian Mbilli being the most likely target for September.
Yet, the man who Canelo kickstarted his undisputed run against, Liverpool’s Smith, told Fight Hub TV that he would be willing to rematch Canelo up at light-heavyweight, six years after their WBA and WBC super-middleweight title affair.
“Yeah possibly. Listen, I would love that fight again. I have always said that we didn’t see the best version of me, he performed well, he done his job, but I’ve always said that I would like to see a better version of me in there with him.
“You never know, I don’t really know what he is doing with his career, whether he wants to go back to 175lbs or not or, if he would, whether he would go back for [Dmitry] Bivol again.
“He is another one of them fighters who is in a position where he can kind of do what he wants, he has earned the right to do that.”
Smith would presumably require a light-heavyweight world title to tempt Canelo into a second fight – if he is able to trump David Morrell next month for the WBO Interim Title, he moves one step close to that status. The fan-favourite from Liverpool has been out of the ring since a gritty, thrilling win over Joshua Buatsi last February, and looks to make a real statement against Cuba’s Morrell in his hometown.
