Saul “Canelo” Alvarez cruised to a unanimous decision on Saturday against former WBC super middleweight world champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh to seal his return to boxing’s elite ranks after a 13-month layoff.
At the age of 36, more than two decades into his professional career, Canelo has still only been beaten by the sport’s best fighters.
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Terence Crawford, now retired, was the last in 2025, after Dmitry Bivol three years ago. Both projects defeated the Mexican star.
But this past weekend, Canelo showed he has more than enough left in his boxing arsenal to challenge the world’s best, even as he nears the end of his run.
So, what next for boxing’s biggest star?
The fight between Canelo and David Benavidez remains one of the greatest rivalries in the sports book. He was always seen as a non-starter, now he is a non-starter, according to trainer Eddy Reynoso earlier this year that is now a dead matchup.
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With Benavidez now the unified cruiserweight world champion, there is too much of a gulf in weight between Benavidez’s division, as his WBA and WBO unified titles at (200 pounds) and the one Canelo fought over the weekend (68 pounds).
Then there are other fighters joining Canelo who seem even further away from him fighting today than ever before – like Jake Paul.
“Problem Boy” recently announced his ring on Dec. 24. former fight kickboxer and MMA star Cedric Doumbe at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Although it will be on Netflix, the anticipation of Canelo vs. Paul remains a gimmick enough to put him at odds with where Alvarez is now — that is, a championship-level fighter capable of combination fights rather than carnivals leading to retirement.
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With that in mind, let’s break down the names likely to enter the ring against Canelo next, from mere pipe dreams to the fire of possibility.
Terence Crawford remains the last man to defeat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
(Sarah Stier via Getty Images)
7. Terence Crawford rematch
“Canelo” may one day lure Terence Crawford out of retirement, but it’s doubtful that day will be soon.
Canelo’s fight is the most desirable; said to fight the Hub scene on Saturday “hope” Crawford cuts short his retirement to join him in the do-over, now that the WBC belt is back in his possession. “We would love to have that rematch,” Canelo said.
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Canelo’s longtime trainer/manager Reynoso also wants a rematch with his fighter. “If Crawford comes back, let’s make the rematch happen.” Reynoso said earlier this year.
“As a trainer, I can see the modifications that need to be made to get to the Crawford rematch and get the results,” Reynoso said.
Believing in the fight, Crawford felt the urge to risk endless danger for one last dance. But it will come at a time when Canelo can only offer one of the world titles “Bud” has already won – and at a time when Turki Alalshikh and Sela of Saudi Arabia appear to be tightening their purse strings when it comes to the fighter’s salary.
If Canelo had won more super middleweight belts, or defeated light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in a unified rematch, or could offer more strength than what Crawford received for the first fight, then this fight would become more likely.
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Fortunately for Canelo, at least, he has other things going for him. “If not [Crawford]moving forward with our course,” he said Saturday.
Chris Eubank Jr. there was a rematch with Conor Benn in the lost action.
(Bradley Collyer – PA Images via Getty Images)
6. Chris Eubank Jr. Wembley Stadium, London
This is a long shot, but a fight against British super middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. fell into this list ranks because of how Eubank looked in his 2025 rematch with Conor Benn.
If Eubank won the rivalry with Benn 2-0, it brought a great importance to the narrative in any claim unless he It holds a key role in helping Canelo gain access to the UK’s lucrative pay-per-view market.
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Eubank also seems more likely to compete against a similar lesser fighter Edgar Berlanga now, rather than sporting the last name of the marquis, even though BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom once described the Canelo-Eubank fight. “he is nailed.”
The World Tour could appeal to a star like Canelo, along with other North American names like Errol Spence Jr. getting his moments when fighting in the United Kingdom. Spence, of course, made Kell Brook look average in an 11th-round knockout win in 2017.
If Eubank is no longer an option, Canelo could consider Benn at catchweight, or even Ben Whittaker at light heavyweight. But it remains to be seen whether any of these fighters will remain in the stadium.
5. Osleys Iglesias for the IBF unification title
Stealth Cuban southpaw Osleys Iglesias is desperate to prove himself against Canelo. And, as the IBF super middleweight champion, the world title brings Alvarez to join the ring again and become a unified belter.
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“I hope so [Canelo] It would give me a fight and allow me to show that Cuban fighters and more specifically Osley Iglesias are a different breed.” Iglesias told Ringo Magazine earlier this year.
Osleys Iglesias (R) may present Alvarez’s toughest challenge of any super middleweight champion.
(Alex Grimm via Getty Images)
He doesn’t trust it to happen, though. “Canelo didn’t want to fight me,” he said.
And Iglesias can be rightly said.
Of all the world’s championship unification possibilities, he will be the most dangerous, according to his rhythm and the power he has in both fists. It also poses a risk to its narrow commercial appeal.
4. Janibek Alimkhanuly Jacob Bank winner for WBO title unification vs
Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Bank will fight for the vacant WBO middleweight title on January 23, 2027 at the Horse Market in Denmark. And the winner of the award could be Canelo after next year.
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The WBO belt is now vacant because Hamzah Sheeraz dropped the championship rather than make a defense against Janibek, who was previously the WBO middleweight champion.
Alimkhanuly is a southpaw, has proven championship stock and is going to make a legitimate technical challenge to Canelo. It is also a more established name than Bank.
The WBO title makes either fighter an attractive matchup, but neither offers legacy, commercial upside or the other advantages of the promos on this list.
3. Dmitry Bivol rematch
Canelo may have won the WBO heavyweight title after knocking out Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round in his debut at 175 pounds in 2019, but his return to the weight class three years later was not as successful, losing by decision to Dmitry Bivol.
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The Kyrgyz-Russian boxer frustrated Canelo with his punches and the use of his triple jab, which he ignited repeatedly during the Las Vegas encounter.
Bivol’s most notable victory of his career thus far, though, was defeating Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez that same year, before winning a majority decision over Artur Beterbiev in a 2025 rematch.
Bivol indicated that he would successfully fight Canelo again, suggesting that he would do so at 168 pounds. This would mean there would be “no excuses” if Alvarez were to beat him again, he said, this time in the legend’s preferred division.
Canelo, although very stubborn, said that he wanted to answer the buffalo in the same division of the most serious levity.
Dmitry Bivol (R) defeated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez 2022.
(Melina Pizano via Getty Images)
2. Lester Martinez in Mexico for WBC consolidation
Bivol doesn’t rank higher on this list because it’s unlikely, judging from the Canelo Team’s own comments, that he’ll return to 175 pounds so quickly.
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“We’ll stay at Super Middleweight for now” Reynoso told Ring Magazine in April. “The distinction is heating up, and we can really get busy there for the foreseeable future.”
If Alvarez remains at 168 pounds, now one of the most famous candidates for the fight would be Lester Martinez, the interim WBC champion, who changed hands on Saturday to keep the regular WBC championship.
A fight with Martinez not only clarifies the status of the WBC championship, it could also be the fight that leads Canelo to Mexico. He last fought in his home country in 2023, when he beat John Ryder in front of 50,000 people at the Estadio Posoniense in Guadalajara.
Canelo vs. Martinez could draw a similar but bigger crowd if Alvarez pursues his dream of fighting in Mexico City’s legendary Estadio Azteca – a venue with a seating capacity of 80,000 that once housed 132,000 fans for a Julio Cesare Chavez fight in 1993.
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1. Hamza Sheeraz in Riyadh
With one fight remaining in “Canelo’s” deal with Saudi Arabia, there can be no better opponent than Hamzah Sheeraz, considering Turki Alalshikh’s loyalty to both fighters.
A Riyadh Ambassador Season, Sheeraz fought in three Saudi bows – his 11th round knockout win over Austin Williams in 2024, his split with Carlos Adames the following year, and his majority decision win over Simon Zachenhuber this past July.
His best modern performance was undoubtedly a fifth-round knockout win over Berlanga last year – leading Alalshikh to proclaim: “Hamzah now deserves Canelo in 2026.”
With Saudi Arabia’s Canelo deal nearing its conclusion, and the Alalshikh matchup already looming, Sheeraz may be the most logical next opponent.