Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has begun preparations for his scheduled September 12 return in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Mexican star insisting his next opponent must be a reigning world champion.
The former undisputed super middleweight champion is expected to headline a major Saudi backed event being developed under the working theme “Mexico vs The World,” with promoter Richard Schaefer in ongoing discussions with Turki Alalshikh to finalize the opponent.
“Just as long as he’s a champion,” Canelo said when asked about the type of opponent he is targeting.
The condition immediately narrows the field across the 168 pound division and surrounding weight classes, limiting the search strictly to current titleholders rather than contenders or voluntary opponents.
Canelo also confirmed his return date remains locked in for September. “Yes, yes, on September 12 we will be there,” he stated when asked directly about his comeback.
At super middleweight, the championship picture remains in flux. Christian Mbilli first held the WBC interim world title, which he retained after a draw against Lester Martinez. Following Terence Crawford’s decision to leave the division and vacate the championship, Mbilli was subsequently elevated to full WBC world champion. His availability for a potential fight with Canelo Alvarez, however, has not yet been finalized within ongoing discussions.
Osleys Iglesias also enters the mix after recently capturing the IBF title with a stoppage win over Russia’s Pavel Silyagin in Canada, though he is not currently viewed as a leading candidate for a Canelo matchup.
Meanwhile, Armando Resendiz is scheduled to defend his WBA title against Jaime Munguia on May 2, a bout that could further impact the distribution of titles heading into the second half of the year.
Reflecting on his current physical condition during training camp, Alvarez added: “I feel good, I feel very good now after recovering from the injuries, I’ve been doing sparring, and sometimes that’s what you need.”
The WBO situation will also be clarified on May 23, when Hamzah Sheeraz faces Alem Begic for the vacant title. That result is expected to play a key role in shaping Canelo’s final opponent selection, particularly if his team prioritizes a newly crowned champion aligned with recent Saudi backed events.
With Riyadh preparing another high profile boxing event under the “Mexico vs The World” banner, Canelo’s team continues to evaluate only reigning champions as potential opponents.
