Canelo Alvarez’s manager names top two next fight options as he lays out future plans

Canelo Alvarez returns to action on September 12 to headline a “Mexico vs The World” card on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

The 35-year-old has skipped his usual Cinco De Mayo slot in May after undergoing surgery on his left elbow at the back end of last year.

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Canelo sustained the injury during a lopsided unanimous decision defeat to Terence Crawford last September.

The Mexican superstar dropped his undisputed super middleweight crown in the process.

But after completing his rehabilitation, he is now back in pursuit of his 168lbs belts.

“We’re going to stay at super middleweight for now,” Canelo’s manager and trainer Eddy Reynoso told Ring Magazine.

“The division is heating up, and we can really stay busy there for the foreseeable future.”

Canelo Alvarez’s next fight options

The titles fragmented after Crawford hung up his gloves in December.

Osleys Iglesias retired Pavel Silyagin on his stool earlier this month to claim the IBF title, while the vacant WBO strap is being contested between Hamzah Sheeraz and Alemic Begic on May 23.

Jose Armando Resendiz was elevated from interim to full WBA champion, as was WBC titlist Christian Mbilli.

The Frenchman is the reported frontrunner to face Canelo next, and Reynoso is seemingly a fan of the fight.

“Mbilli is a really great fight, if it ends up happening,” added Reynoso.

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“We saw the great fight Mbilli had with Lester Martinez, and it would be a great challenge for Canelo.”

At the top of Canelo’s hitlist is a rematch with Crawford, although that seems extremely unlikely at this stage.

“If Crawford returns, let’s make the rematch happen,” continued Reynoso.

“As a trainer, I can see the modifications that we need to make for the Crawford rematch and for the results to go our way.”

There isn’t much appetite for a second fight, given how one-sided the inaugural encounter was.

And Crawford has already made it clear that he is retired for good.

Boxing schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s  boxing schedule.