Following his defeat at the hands of Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez faces an uncertain path in his boxing career. This article delves into the potential future fights for the Mexican superstar, his recovery from elbow surgery, and the broader context of his career trajectory.
Recap of Alvarez vs. Crawford
Canelo Alvarez is coming off his third professional career defeat at the hands of undefeated American boxing superstar Terence Crawford. This ended the reign of Alvarez in the super middleweight division.
The fight took place in September 2025 at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium and was streamed worldwide on Netflix. Crawford dominated Canelo Alvarez to make boxing history. Following the victory, Crawford declared himself "the new face of boxing," emphasizing what he viewed as a career-defining performance. In his post-fight interview, Crawford reflected on Álvarez's power and technique, stating, "He didn't hit as hard as I thought he was." Álvarez echoed that assessment in his own remarks, acknowledging the difficulty he faced in solving Crawford's approach: "I tried my best tonight and I just could not figure out the style," he said, later adding, "Everything [he did gave me the most trouble]."
The opening rounds were tightly contested. Álvarez attacked the body with his left hook and disguised his shots with level changes, while Crawford established his jab and countered effectively with straight lefts and short combinations. The fourth round produced Álvarez's first significant success when he snapped Crawford's head back with a right hand, but Crawford took it well. The sixth marked the turning point when Crawford landed a hook to Alvarez's chin which forced him backwards.
The fight drew significant attention, with Terence Crawford stuns Canelo Álvarez to become undisputed super middleweight champion. The fight broke Allegiant Stadium crowd record. The bout drew 41M viewers, making history for men's title fight.
Read also: Potential Canelo Fight
Alvarez's Recovery and Future Plans
Canelo Alvarez is continuing his recovery from elbow surgery after his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford last September. While he recovers, the boxing world is waiting to see what the next step in his career will be after he lost his belts in the super middleweight division.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will face an extended period outside the ring. Alvarez, 35, is now expected to return in either the second quarter or third quarter of 2026. If his next bout is pushed into the third quarter of 2026, the Mexican star may only compete once next year. It is unclear who Alvarez's opponent will be for his first contest of 2026.
Potential Opponents and Fight Dynamics
Several high-profile fights and massive pay-per-view points have helped Alvarez with these gigantic payouts. The Mexican superstar’s biggest single fight payout was his last fight with Golovkin, where he was guaranteed $45 million.
Rematch with Terence Crawford
According to reports from Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN, "I knew that plan A was the rematch with Terence Crawford, that's why Saul undergoes this surgery on an elbow. And I knew that they intended to seek revenge. He was obviously surprised by a Crawford who spent a year working precisely to face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez".
Although he did not call for an immediate rematch in the aftermath of the bout, Álvarez stated in November 2025 that he intended to pursue a second fight with Crawford.
Read also: Shop Canelo Alvarez Shirts
Other Potential Opponents
Hamzah Sheeraz, fresh off his knockout win over Edgar Berlanga in July, was the leading candidate for Alvarez's return bout in February, with Chris Eubank Jr., Christian Mbilli and Dmitry Bivol among others, in consideration for both fights in 2026.
The Saudi Arabian Connection
Alvarez signed a four-fight deal with Saudi Arabian fight financier Turki Alalshikh this past February. The agreement called for the four-division champion to compete twice under the "Riyadh Season" banner in 2026.
The first of those two fights was initially scheduled for February, with the second planned for October, both to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As a result of Monday's news, Alvarez, 35, is now expected to return in either the second quarter or third quarter of 2026. Turki Alalshikh announced that the undercard for the Álvarez vs. Crawford fight would likely take place across "two or three days".
Alvarez's Legacy and Career Highlights
Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan was born on July 18, 1990, the youngest of eight siblings comprising seven boys and one girl. All of the Alvarez boys were boxers, and, by the age of 10, Saul’s interest in pugilism had reached its peak. A 15-year-old Alvarez made his professional debut with a fourth-round TKO of Abraham Gonzalez in September 2005.
Alvarez has achieved numerous milestones throughout his career:
Read also: Alvarez vs. Berlanga: Fight Analysis
- Won a silver medal at the Junior Mexican National Championships and became the Junior Mexican National Champion.
- Captured the WBA title with a four-knockdown, third-round TKO of champion Rocky Fielding in December 2018.
- Became a four-division champion in November 2019, scoring a sensational 11th-round knockout over WBO 175-pound titleholder Sergey Kovalev.
- Became the first undisputed 168-pound champion in the four-belt era after stopping Caleb Plant in November 2021.
- Defeated Jermell Charlo by unanimous decision in September 2023.
- Defeated Jaime Munguia by unanimous decision in May 2024.
Alvarez’s legacy places in rare air among his countrymen, which includes greats such as as three-division champions Julio Cesar Chavez and Marco Antonio Barrera, four-division title winners Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales and long-reigning champions Salvador Sanchez and Ruben Olivares.
Key Stats and Facts
Here's a table summarizing key aspects of Canelo Alvarez's career and recent fight:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan |
| Birth Date | July 18, 1990 |
| Professional Debut | September 2005 |
| Biggest Fight Payout | $45 million (vs. Golovkin) |
| Trainer | Chepo and Eddy Reynoso |
| Titles Held | WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, The Ring Super Middleweight Champion |
| Last Fight Result | Loss to Terence Crawford (September 2025) |