Who Could Canelo Alvarez Face Next? The 7 Most Likely Opponents After His Win Over Christian Mbilli

On Saturday, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez secured a clear unanimous decision victory against former WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh. This win marked his return to the sport’s top tier after a 13-month break.

At 36 years old and with over twenty years as a professional, Canelo has only been bested by the very elite fighters in boxing. The last time he lost was to Terence Crawford in 2025, following a defeat by Dmitry Bivol three years earlier. Both losses came by decision.

Despite nearing the later stage of his career, Canelo demonstrated on Saturday that he still possesses the skills to compete with the world’s best. So what are his next challenges?

Dream Fights That Won’t Happen Anytime Soon

• David Benavidez: Once considered a potential matchup, it seems off the table now. Trainer Eddy Reynoso confirmed earlier this year that the fight is dead. Benavidez has moved up to cruiserweight (200 pounds), far above Canelo's current 168-pound division.
• Jake Paul: The YouTuber turned boxer plans to fight on December 24 against Cedric Doumbe in Dubai. While Netflix might have an interest, Canelo appears focused on championship-level fights rather than spectacle bouts.

Ranking the Top Seven Possible Opponents for Canelo Alvarez

This is the fight Canelo most desires. He told Fight Hub after his recent victory that he hopes Crawford returns from retirement for a rematch. Trainer Eddy Reynoso shares this wish and believes adjustments could swing the result in Canelo’s favor.

But Crawford would be risking his undefeated record for a fight where Canelo can only offer one of the belts he previously held. Plus, purse limitations from Saudi sponsors could deter a big payday. If Canelo captures more titles or beats unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol again, the chances might rise. Until then, Canelo plans to move forward regardless.

A long-discussed option, but Eubank's form dipped after losing to Conor Benn in 2025. If Eubank had won that rivalry, his momentum might have justified a huge UK bout with Canelo.

Currently, Eubank seems more likely to face less prominent opponents like Edgar Berlanga. Promoter Ben Shalom once called a Canelo-Eubank fight “nailed on,” but that looks doubtful now. Other British names like Benn or Ben Whittaker could be possible, but whether they attract big crowds remains uncertain.

IBF super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias, a tricky Cuban southpaw, wants to prove himself against Canelo. He told Ring Magazine he hopes for the chance to showcase Cuban boxing’s strength.

Yet, Iglesias doubts the fight will happen, sensing Canelo might avoid him due to the challenge he poses. Iglesias combines powerful counterpunching with solid technique, making him a dangerous opponent despite limited commercial appeal.

The winner of the January 23, 2027 match between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Bank could become Canelo’s next target. They’ll contest the vacant WBO super middleweight title in Denmark.

Alimkhanuly is a southpaw with championship experience, while Bank is less proven. Neither has the star power or promotional advantages that others on this list bring, but the WBO belt could lure Canelo into a unification bout.

Canelo defeated Sergey Kovalev to win the WBO light heavyweight title in 2019 but lost to Dmitry Bivol in 2022 by decision. Bivol neutralized Canelo with his jab and feints.

Bivol has suggested he’d fight Canelo again at 168 pounds to avoid excuses, though Canelo insists the rematch must be at light heavyweight. The rematch would test if Canelo can overcome the man who stopped him before.

Since Canelo plans to remain at super middleweight for now, the interim WBC champion Lester Martinez is a logical opponent. Martinez was ringside to watch Canelo claim the regular WBC title recently.

A fight with Martinez would clarify the WBC championship status and might bring Canelo back to Mexico. He last fought there in 2023 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara before 50,000 fans. A return to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which seats 80,000, could produce an even larger crowd.

Hamzah Sheeraz might be the most sensible choice for Canelo’s final bout under his Saudi Arabia agreement. Sheeraz has fought three times on Saudi-backed cards, including a knockout win over Edgar Berlanga, which earned praise from Saudi official Turki Alalshikh.

With the partnership nearing its end and Alalshikh backing the matchup, Sheeraz could be the next fighter to step into the ring with Canelo in Riyadh.