Despite not currently holding a world title, Canelo Alvarez is still one of the biggest names in the sport, and one active middleweight contender has admitted that he hopes to move up to 168lbs and send the Mexican superstar ‘into retirement’ in the near future.
Canelo is set to challenge for Christian Mbilli’s WBC super-middleweight title at the end of the month in Saudi Arabia, as he seeks to once again establish himself as the man to beat in a division that had become his own in recent years.
Whilst a host of other super-middleweights await the outcome of the bout and hope to secure a shot at both Canelo and the WBC marble in 2027, there is a middleweight contender planning on jumping the queue.
Speaking to RINGCHAMPS with AK & BARAK, New Jersey 160lber Vito Mielnicki Jr unveiled his goal to win a middleweight world title and then move up and take on Alvarez.
“I’m not even just talking about like the business side of things. For me, that is somebody that I looked up to when I was growing up. So, just to be able to share the ring with somebody like that [would be amazing], that is how I look at it.
“I feel like, if I get a world title, then fine, let’s go up to 168lbs. Maybe I will be Canelo’s last fight and send him off into retirement, but respect to Canelo!”
Whilst Mielnicki, who is ranked inside the top 10 of all the major governing bodies, is well positioned for a shot at the presumedly soon-to-be-vacant WBO middleweight title, it is understood that ‘White Magic’ will turn down a bid for the vacant belt against Yoenlis Hernandez, with Michael Zerafa now the frontrunner for the opposing corner.
Instead, it is believed that 24-year-old Mielnicki will collide with former unified super-welterweight world champion Xander Zayas in 2027, for what will be the latter’s middleweight debut and first outing since losing his 154lb titles to Jaron Ennis.
