Canelo Álvarez set to return in May after undergoing surgery
The Mexican superstar underwent a successful left wrist surgery earlier this week and he is expected to return to fighting early next year.
Saúl Canelo Álvarez ended his boxing year by defeating Gennady Golovkin in mid-September to remain the undisputed super middleweight champion. Following that fight, the 32-year-old (58-2-2. 39 KOs) underwent a successful left wrist surgery that he said he needed and had been dealing with for a long time.
Speedy recovery for Canelo
It was expected that the Mexican superstar would take an extended break and return to fighting in September 2023, but his recovery is going better than expected. According to the chairman of Matchroom Sport, Eddie Hearn, Canelo Álvarez is eager to return to the ring and is expected to fight as soon as May despite still recovering from left wrist surgery.
“I talked with Saúl a few days ago, and he told me he can resume punching in two months after undergoing a successful wrist surgery following his trilogy win over Gennady Golovkin. So there is no reason he can’t return in May, but it depends on the opponent he wants to fight,” said Hearn during an interview with Fight Hub TV.
Canelo eager for a rematch against Bivol
The Mexican superstar wants the rematch fight against Dmitry Bivol, but the ball is not on his side of the court. Now, it is the Russian boxer who will decide when this fight will take place, and after defeating Zurdo Ramírez on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, Bivol wants to go on and fight Artur Beterbiev first for the undisputed championship.
“I think if he had a choice, I think he’d like to be undisputed at 175,” said Eddie Hearn to Fight Hub TV about Bivol. “Obviously, for me working with Canelo and Bivol, it would make sense to make that fight. I have to talk to Eddy Reynoso and Saul. Obviously, they would have watched that performance. That defeat [for Canelo] will eat him up. He’ll want to avenge that defeat.
“Right now, he has a chance to avenge a defeat, and I think that’ll be his priority. I’ll see what Eddy and Saul said. I would like to make the Canelo rematch because I don’t think Beterbiev will be available until August or September. If he’s going to fight Yarde in January or February, he’s got Ramadan until April or May. He’s probably not going to be ready until August or September. I don’t think Dmitry Bivol will wait that long,” said Hearn.