Having conquered the super middleweight division and pondered a promotion to cruiserweight, Canelo Alvarez may be interested in returning to his former weight class.
The undisputed super middleweight champion has recently teamed up with Ilunga Makabu, the WBC cruiserweight champion, if he successfully defends his title against Thabiso Mchunu on January 29. However, Canelo may have a different challenge in mind.
ESPN’s Mike Coppinger spoke on “State of Boxing” and discussed the next steps for Canelo.
Canelo is looking to take a break after a busy 2021 and could return to the middleweight division for the first time since 2019. His opponent could well be WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo.
“I’m not so sure that Canelo is going to fight at cruiserweight or Makabu,” Coppinger said. “I heard that he is much more likely to fight Jermall Charlo on Cinco de Mayo. There are talks right now for that fight. “
Canelo is coming off a TKO victory over Caleb Plant in November to claim the IBF super middleweight title. The victory resulted in him becoming an undisputed champion in just 11 months.
From 2015 to 2019, Canelo dominated the middleweight division. He beat Miguel Cotto for the WBC title, Gennadiy Golovkin for the WBA title and Daniel Jacobs for the IBF title.
In addition to possible clashes with Charlo and Makabu, Canelo has also shown interest in the light heavyweight division.
Charlo made his professional debut in 2008. A former IBF junior middleweight champion, the 31-year-old won the interim WBC middleweight title in 2018. Promoted to full-time champion, he has defended the belt five times. His last fight was in June, defeating Juan Macías Montiel by unanimous decision.
When Canelo fought Plant, Charlo said in the PBC podcast he was interested in facing the winner.
“Yeah, hopefully whoever the winner is, hopefully we can make a mega deal,” Charlo said, via Boxing News 24. “I am looking for a mega deal and to extend my legacy. If one of those guys gives me the opportunity, I will definitely take it. “
Plant and WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade also called Charlo in for a fight.