Canelo Alvarez is set to compete for the WBC super-middleweight title next month against undefeated champion Christian Mbilli, with unifications on the horizon should he win.
Canelo remains one of the biggest names in the sport despite losing his undisputed title to Terence Crawford last year, with a long list of contenders and champions still angling to land a fight with the Mexican icon.
Hamzah Sheeraz in particular has been vocal in his plans to take on Canelo in the near future, and those plans were likely to go ahead if Canelo is able to defeat Mbilli and Sheeraz had defeated mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhnauly.
However, Sheeraz has instead vacated his WBO super-middleweight title rather than face former unified middleweight ruler Alimkhanuly, who lost one of his 160lb belts due to a failed drugs test.
Upon hearing the news of Sheeraz’s relinquished title, Alimkhanuly took to X to declare his plans to claim the WBO title and then unify with Alvarez himself, if Canelo is able to defeat Mbilli.
“Everyone knows I’m not interested in the money. I’m ready! I’m also ready to see the news that he [Sheeraz] is vacating the title. I just need that title. Then I have to unify with Canelo. That’s it!”
Everyone knows I’m not interested in the money. I’m ready! I’m also ready to see the news that he’s vacating the title. I just need that title. Then I have to unify with Canelo. That’s it!
— Janibek Alimkhanuly (@qazaqstyle) September 17, 2026
It is believed that the WBO will soon order a vacant title bout between Alimkhanuly (WBO #1) and Denmark’s Jacob Bank (WBO #3), with #2 rated Diego Pacheco expected to collide with Darius Fulghum on Saturday, November 14.
Canelo, meanwhile, challenges Mbilli on October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, giving himself not only a chance to win back a world title, but to prove to fans that, at 36 and with 68 fights under his belt, he is still a force to be reckoned with at the very top level.
