Canelo Álvarez is back: The Mexican star’s return date is finally set

Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez will not fight in May 2026, a slot that had become a tradition for boxing fans in the U.S. market. The Mexican star is still recovering from elbow surgery, although he has already resumed training. As a result, his return has been pushed back to September.

Trainer Eddy Reynoso had previously said the plan was to return in September, but Alalshikh was the one who made it official. Canelo will headline a Mexico Independence weekend card titled “Mexico Against the World,” an event that will also mark the debut of Canelo Promotions in Riyadh. Fighters from Canelo Promotions will face opponents from around the globe on the same card.

When will Canelo return to boxing?

The announcement came via a video shared by The Ring magazine. Alalshikh appeared alongside Canelo and confirmed that Sept. 12 is the target date. The opponent has not yet been announced, although the intention had been to pursue an immediate rematch with Terence Crawford. What is confirmed is that the fight will be for a world championship.

Who could be Canelo’s opponent?

Three of the four major titles at 168 pounds are currently vacant. The World Boxing Association named Jose Armando Resendiz its super middleweight champion after he was elevated from interim status. That could open the door for Canelo to challenge for the belt if he wants to reclaim championship gold.

The WBC, WBO and IBF have not yet crowned champions in the division. The WBC, known for its green and gold belt, has ordered a mandatory bout between Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz to determine a champion, but no date has been set.

The IBF had previously ordered Canelo to face Osleys Iglesias, but the Mexican star informed the organization that he was not yet ready. For now, he has passed on the opportunity to fight for one of the titles he lost several months ago.

The WBO, meanwhile, has ordered Hamzah Sheeraz to face Diego Pacheco for its 168-pound title, but that bout also remains unscheduled, leaving the belt vacant.

All four sanctioning bodies currently rank Canelo Alvarez as the No. 1 contender at super middleweight. That leaves him with a wide range of options as he prepares for his return to the ring this September.

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