Rumors about Canelo Alvarez‘s upcoming fights are on the rise, especially after he signed a deal with Turki Al-Sheikh for four fights in 2025 and 2026.
In recent days, it was almost confirmed that Jake Paul would be his opponent for his May date and that in September the opponent would be Terence Crawford, but everything changed in the last few hours.
Saul Alvarez and his possible rivals
As soon as the deal between Saul Alvarez and Riyadh Season was announced, the possible opponents and dates for the Guadalajara native were leaked, and Jake Paul is not among them, but the possibility of Crawford is strengthened.
Paul’s team announced that it was in negotiations with Alvarez, but Turki Alalshikh appeared: “Canelo only fights with real fighters,” the sheikh told ESPN.
And it is the insider of that network and editor at The Ring, Mike Coppinger, who reveals the potential opponents of the Mexican that Al-Sheikh has in mind.
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For his first fight in May, the possible options are Jermall Charlo (33-0), brother of Jermell Charlo, who lost to the Mexican in September 2023, and who has not fought since November 2023, when he defeated Jose Benavidez Jr., brother of David Benavidez. Another is Bruno Surace (26-0), who knocked out Jaime Munguia in December 2024 in the upset of the year for The Ring. Whoever the opponent is, the fight would be in Saudi Arabia.
Terence Crawford in September?
The second fight of the year would be the long-awaited one against Terence Crawford, one of the main fighters promoted by Turki Alalshikh, scheduled for September 13 in Las Vegas.
The other fights would be in 2026 in February and another in October, both in Riyadh, the Arab capital. In the first one he could have his rematch against Dmitry Bivol (23-1), with whom he lost in 2022, although it could depend on how he fares in his rematch against Artur Beterbiev next February 22.
Other options for that date of February 3, 2026, are Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0), who will challenge WBC middleweight world champion Carlos Adames (24-1) on the Beterbiev vs Bivol card, and Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3), who has already been rumored for a possible fight in the United Kingdom.
The last fight agreed with Riyadh Season would be in October 2026, although still without a potential opponent according to Coppinger.