LAS VEGAS — Canelo Alvarez’s comeback plans have been put on hold. The Mexican superstar will undergo elbow surgery following his recent loss to Terence Crawford, delaying his return to the ring indefinitely, according to The Ring’s Mike Coppinger on Inside The Ring.
Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) had tentatively targeted February 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for his next outing, but the procedure will force him to extend his recovery window.
After Crawford Loss
The 35-year-old Guadalajara native saw his reign as undisputed super middleweight champion end on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) moved up two divisions and scored a decisive unanimous decision victory.
Despite the setback, Alvarez made clear at the post-fight press conference that retirement is not on his mind.
“I still have fights left in me,” Alvarez said. “This is not the end.”
Contractual Commitments
Canelo has two fights remaining on his four-fight, $400 million deal with Riyadh Season, but the timing of those bouts is now uncertain.
The planned February return was expected to serve as his rebound after losing all four major belts at 168 pounds (Ring, WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF). Instead, Alvarez will now shift focus to recovery and rehabilitation.
Looking Ahead
There is no set timetable for his return, but speculation will continue to swirl about possible opponents once he heals. Options include:
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A rematch with Crawford or Dmitry Bivol
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A long-discussed showdown with David Benavidez at light heavyweight
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Or rising contenders such as Diego Pacheco or Hamzah Sheeraz
For now, the boxing world will have to wait on one of its biggest stars.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
