“All the fighters want similar to the career of Mayweather-zero losses. This can happen one time every 50/60/70 years,” said His Excellency Turki Alalshikh earlier this year while chatting with Carl Froch. And honestly? He’s got a point. Undefeated records in boxing are rare. So with Floyd Mayweather Jr. hanging up the gloves back in 2017 at 50-0, the dream of the big rematch between him and Canelo Álvarez has already long sailed. But let’s not forget, he has another loss on his record. After racking up wins against some of the most elite boxers of his era, Canelo Alvarez decided to step up in weight in 2022. However, he ran into the brick wall that is Dmitry Bivol. A unanimous decision loss broke his 15-fight win streak (except for a draw against Golovkin) and humbled him.

Since then? He’s bounced back like a champion. The 62-2 boxer has racked up wins and hasn’t let that Bivol setback derail his momentum. But yeah, it still lingers. That’s what makes his next chapter so interesting. After a brief swirl of rumors about a Jake Paul fight that didn’t materialize, Canelo’s locked into a four-fight deal with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh—and the first bout is just around the corner. On May 3rd, he faces William Scull in Riyadh for the undisputed super middleweight title, once again.

And let’s be clear — this fight matters. If Canelo pulls off the win, he becomes the first Mexican to be a two-time undisputed champion in the same division. That’s history right there. But beyond May 3rd? That’s where it gets exciting. Canelo’s shown no signs of slowing down or hinting at retirement. So the big question is—what’s next? In a recent sit-down with The Ring’s Mike Coppinger, the host didn’t waste time and dove right in, asking the question on everyone’s mind—with Canelo Alvarez being the top dog at 168 lbs, what about that rematch at 175 lbs with Dmitry Bivol next year?

“I hope I have the opportunity to have that rematch with Bivol,” the Mexican star answered. “That’s the only fight at 175 I’ll really take.” He didn’t say it’s locked in, but you could feel the desire in him to avenge the defeat. “But we’ll see,” he added. The former boxing editor for ESPN then pointed out something fans have suspected for a while: that the loss still lingers. But the Guadalajara native was quick to clarify.

“Not bother me,” he replied. “You learn something from that fight… I have that thing in myself like say, ‘Hey you need to show you are a better fighter than him.'” That’s not a man sulking over a loss. That’s a competitor who knows he wasn’t at his best and wants a do-over on his own terms.

Turns out, Canelo Alvarez went into that Bivol fight far from 100%. “I have 50% of my of all my abilities,” he admitted. He then revealed that he was dealing with a serious left-hand injury and couldn’t even spar for the last month leading into the fight. On top of that? A knee injury kept him from moving well.

But despite that, he still gave Bivol his flowers: “He’s a very good fighter. One of the best out there.” As for what’s next? That Dmitry Bivol rematch is definitely on the radar. But there’s another destination Canelo Alvarez lit up about—Tokyo. “It’s one of my dreams [to] go and fight in Tokyo Dome,” the Mexican champion stated.

Yep, Japan has been a dream of his for years. Why? “I grew up with [Oscar] ‘Chololo’ Larios, and he went there a lot of times and I always dreaming about fighting in Japan,” he shared with a smile. It’s not confirmed yet, but Canelo Alvarez hinted we might hear more about that once this year wraps up.

What’s next for Canelo Alvarez after two more fights in 2026?

With a four-fight deal inked with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Canelo Alvarez has his calendar pretty full. After taking on two opponents this year, the Mexican superstar is expected to round out the deal with two more fights in 2026. One likely in February, and the other closing the curtain in October. Sounds like a plan, right? But boxing, as we all know, rarely sticks to the script.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Dmitry Bivol. If fans are hoping for that long-awaited rematch between Canelo and Bivol, they might want to pump the brakes—at least for now. Why? Because Bivol has his own unfinished business. He’s currently tied up in a trilogy with Artur Beterbiev, and while many expect that saga to wrap up this year, nothing is ever set in stone in this sport.

If Bivol wins? Smooth sailing—he can pick and choose his next move, and a Canelo rematch might finally be on the table. But if he doesn’t? Well, that opens a whole new can of worms. Maybe Beterbiev gets the upper hand again, and Turki Alalshikh pushes for a fourth fight to settle the score once and for all. Or maybe Bivol has to face another top contender at light heavyweight— David Benavidez, perhaps? The possibilities are endless, and the road to that rematch could get bumpy.

Meanwhile, if Canelo Alvarez doesn’t end up moving up to 175 again, fans will still expect fireworks. And let’s be honest, if he doesn’t fight Bivol, you can bet fans will be calling for a clash with Benavidez. Because in boxing? You don’t get to leave unfinished business lying around. But if staying at super middleweight is the game plan, there’s still a big name circling: Chris Eubank Jr.

His father, the legendary Chris Eubank Sr., is already campaigning for that matchup—and it makes sense. So what’s next for Canelo Álvarez? Well, it’s still up in the air—but one thing’s for sure: the man’s not done yet, and 2026 could be full of surprises. Would you want to see Canelo fight in Japan’s iconic Tokyo Dome before he retires? Do let us know your thoughts below.