Canelo Alvarez Next Fight: Five Boxers That Can Knock Him Out

Just when Caleb Plant started to look a lot like the only person who could get finally beat him, Canelo Alvarez wiped all doubters off the board by knocking the IBF titlist out in round 11 on November 6. The boxing world is now convinced that Saul Alvarez is indeed one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Boxing’s pound-for-pound king is still only 31 years old. At just 31, he has already managed to bag world championships in four weight classes and is now also boxing’s sixth-ever undisputed champion.

Without a doubt, Canelo Alvarez is the best at what he does; what’s even more terrifying about this man is the fact that he is not afraid of fighting the toughest opponents in different divisions. His actions throughout his career just go to show that he values competition above everything else and is often willing to leave it all on the line to pursue eternal greatness in the sport.

So, will this turn out to be a Khabib Nurmagomedov-like situation where he sees retirement as the only option now as he already has all of the belts and remains undefeated since 2013? Definitely not.

Canelo Alvarez says he wants to fight for at least seven more years before he can even consider retirement. Now that he’s the undisputed super-middleweight champion, what could his next few years look like?

Are there still any fighters out there who could defeat the champ from Guadalajara, Mexico?

Five boxers who could dethrone Canelo Alvarez

Ever since his professional boxing debut in 2005, he has fought 60 times, has racked up 57 wins, 2 draws, and a single blemish on his record against another legend, Floyd Mayweather.

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With roughly seven more years of fuel still left in him, these are five opponents that could present tough challenges to the Mexican p4p king-

Gennady Golovkin  – Is the trilogy next for Canelo?

Gennady Golovkin has fought just three times since his last fight with Canelo in 2018. His most notable win during this time came against  Sergiy Derevyanchenko in one of 2019’s best fights. Golovkin last fought Kamil Szeremeta in 2020 December; however, he hasn’t fought yet in 2021.

Now, it seems he is scheduled to return to action on Dec. 29 in Japan against Ryota Murata. With this mega clash, GGG will have a chance to once again become a unified middleweight champion.

Canelo Alvarez has expressed disinterest in fighting GGG due to his inactivity but now it seems, he is open to a trilogy clash. However, the p4p king wants Golovkin to move up to super-middleweight for the third fight.

“I would love the fight [with GGG]. Why not?” Alvarez told ESPN. “If he’s open to come up to 168, I’m ready. Always.

“I’m always available to fight the best fights out there. Being [an] undisputed fighter is not easy. You are asking me, so why not? I’m always ready for anybody,” said Canelo Alvarez.

David Benavidez – Most favored to beat Canelo

David Benavidez could very well be Canelo Alvarez’s biggest threat at 168 lbs. He is only 24-years-old and is running on an undefeated 24-fights win streak. Many in the boxing community believe this is the fight to make and believe Benavidez has everything and more that Canelo has or lacks.

The 24-year-old former champion has now expressed that he is down to fight Canelo either at 168 or even at light-heavyweight. He believes that is a great fight and is confident that he’ll be the one to finally take down the undisputed champion.

“But for me, I feel like this is really the start of my career. This is exactly what I wanted to be at. I’ve done the groundwork already. Now, the hard work is really here.

“I’m looking to be one of the best fighters of my generation, and it starts now. You look at Terence Crawford, and you look at a lot of great fighters; they don’t really start getting to the peak of their career until they’re like 26, 27.

“I’ll be 25 next month, and I’ve been a two-time world champion so far. My career is barely starting, so I still have a lot to prove. That’s what makes me so dangerous. I’m hungry, and I want this. I’m a big puncher.

“I have 24 fights, 21 knockouts, I have a lot of speed, I have a great jab. I have great body shots. I’m a very dangerous fighter. I am the one that’s going to be the one that beats Canelo one day,” said Benavidez.

Jermall Charlo is going down to chase Canelo in Mexico

WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo showed up at their ceremonial weigh-in prior to the Alvarez-Plant event.

In an interview, Jermall Charlo made a surprising revelation. He looked dead straight into the camera and called out Saul Alvarez. Moreover, he highlighted that he’d be willing to go down to Guadalajara in Mexico to fight the p4p king.

WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo showed up at their ceremonial weigh-in prior to the Alvarez-Plant event.

In an interview, Jermall Charlo made a surprising revelation. He looked dead straight into the camera and called out Saul Alvarez. Moreover, he highlighted that he’d be willing to go down to Guadalajara in Mexico to fight the p4p king.

Before Canelo’s last fight, Jermall Charlo mentioned that he wants to fight the winner of Plant vs Alvarez.

“I’m looking for a mega-deal and extend my legacy. If one of those guys gives me the opportunity I’m definitely taking it,” said Charlo.

Artur Beterbiev – Canelo’s toughest challenge at 175

Canelo Alvarez has talked about only moving up in weight henceforth; the WBC and IBF champion Artur Beterbiev could very well be his toughest challenge at 175.

During Plant vs Canelo negotiations, Eddie Hearn even talked about how Canelo sees Artur Beterbiev as a tough challenge.

“You know, you have Joe Smith, you have Dmitry Bivol and you have Artur Beterbiev. Dmitry Bivol is probably the easiest fight to make because he works with us. 

“But Artur Beterbiev, Canelo talks about that, but he knows how hard Beterbiev punches, and Canelo’s a competitor. 

“Now you tell him that’s not the fight to take. You want to take it? You tell him that’s a dangerous fight? He’ll want to do it. It’s very, very risky moving up to 175.

“You know, we still were against [Sergey] Kovalev. Kovalev was, you know, these guys, particularly Bivol; he’s in his prime right now. And still young. Beterbiev is aging but still in his prime Kovalev, arguably the back end of his career, but you could do it,” said Eddie Hearn.

Dmitry Bivol – Another tough Russian challenger at 175

Dmitry Bivol currently holds the WBA belt at 175 lbs. He has been a name on Canelo Alvarez’s hit list for a while now. Even when the negotiations between Caleb Plant and Alvarez fell apart, promoter Eddie Hearn had brought up the Russian light-heavyweight as a potential opponent.

Dmitry Bivol is one of two Russians on this list who could offer Alvarez more than just the thrill and the challenge of a single fight. At 30 years old, undefeated over 18 fights with 11 KOs, he is fresh enough to represent an opponent who is still improving, and who has the experience in the ring to offer stiff resistance.

Also Read: WATCH: Charlo Brothers Get Ejected From Their Seats During Canelo vs. Plant