2026-01-16 12:18:03

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has confirmed he will return to boxing on September 12, 2026.

The 35-year-old former undisputed super-middleweight champion is coming off a one-sided defeat to Terence Crawford, 38, last September, and still has two fights remaining on his contract with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.

It has now been confirmed Canelo will be getting back in the ring later this year for a clash dubbed ‘Mexico Against the World’.

Speaking in a video shared by The Ring, Alalshikh said: “Wait for us in September, 12th of September. Big, big, big fight.”

“This will be the first card for Canelo Promotions. It will be named ‘Mexico Against the World’. All the fighters from the team of Canelo against the world, and Canelo in the main event for a world title, and it will be a surprise in Saudi Arabia, in sha Allah.”

Cinnamon, has previously stated he intends to fight until the age of 37, despite speculation following his loss to Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

That defeat – which came by unanimous decision – was compounded by an elbow injury that later required surgery and sidelined his potential retirement plans.

In the aftermath of that bout, a rematch with Crawford was widely discussed, but Crawford has since officially retired from boxing – leaving Alvarez to pursue alternative options as he prepares his comeback.

Potential opponents have already been floated, with unbeaten contenders Christian Mbilli, 30, and Hamzah Sheeraz, 26, among those linked with a shot at Canelo.

A move up in weight has also been mentioned, with names such as David Benavidez, 29, Dmitry Bivol, 35, and Artur Beterbiev, 40 all possible long-term targets should Alvarez seek another legacy-defining challenge.

The September date also aligns with Alvarez’s long-standing preference for major cultural weekends, with Mexican Independence Day due to take place on September 16, 2026.

Alvarez has remained defiant about his future since the Crawford defeat, insisting his motivation has not faded after more than two decades in the sport.

He said: “Twenty years in, I still feel the same fire I had when I first stepped into the ring. Every victory and every challenge has made me who I am today.”

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