Ahead of his upcoming defense of his unified super middleweight titles, pound-for-pound boxing star Canelo Alvarez is already eyeing future opponents.
Alvarez, who is set to face WBO interim champion John Ryder on May 6, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that he is planning for a rematch against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in September. He added that if he’s not able to run it back against Bivol, he’s open to facing super middleweight contender David Benavidez.
The interest from Alvarez in another shot at Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) should come as no surprise following his upset unanimous-decision loss last May, which was just the second defeat of his career. Alvarez (58-2, 39 KOs) expressed his desire for a rematch immediatel
5 Best Fights for David Benavidez After Win vs. Caleb Plant
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It’s a big stretch for the super middleweights.
Just more than a week after pay-per-view stalwart—and undisputed 168-pound champion—Canelo Álvarez announced he’d be returning to the ring in early May, two fighters hoping to be next on his dance card this summer met atop their own PPV show in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Top contenders David Benavidez and Caleb Plant, who’ve combined for eight title-fight wins across three belted reigns in the weight class, were at the MGM Grand as the main eventers in a card carried live from the desert by Showtime and PPV.com.
Benavidez emerged victorious by punishing decision and put himself at the front of the line for a date with the Mexican superstar, but the B/R combat sports team surveyed the entire competitive landscape available to the unbeaten 26-year-old just in case things don’t come together.
Take a look at what we came up with and drop a take or two of your own in the comments.
Canelo Álvarez
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Let’s start with the most desirable option, shall we?
Given his 27-0 record and two reigns as the WBC’s champion, not to mention his newly certified status as the organization’s mandatory challenger to full-fledged claimant, it’s no surprise that Canelo Álvarez has been on Benavidez’s wish list.
He pulled no punches in a recent chat with Everything Boxing, suggesting that Álvarez, who’s been the WBC champ since 2020, needs to go ahead and sign for a fight with him or relinquish the throne if he’s decided against the matchup.
Incidentally, for tales of the tape purposes, Benavidez stands 6’2″ to Álvarez’s 5’8″ and has a 74.5-inch reach compared to Álvarez’s 70.5. Álvarez is 7-0 with four KOs from 160 to 168 pounds, including an 11th-round KO of Plant in November 2021.
“Now, this fight [with Plant], the winner is the mandatory for Canelo. That’s what it has to be. If he doesn’t want to fight me, then he has to vacate the belt,” he said. “I feel it’ll be a big opportunity to miss because the fans want to see this fight. It’s a big fight, and may the best man win.”
David Morrell
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It wouldn’t be entirely off base to call David Morrell a prodigy.
He still just 25 years old and has only eight professional fights after an extensive amateur career in which he fought 132 times and won a youth world championship representing Cuba in 2016. But even in a limited time, he’s picked up some street cred.
He turned pro with a first-round KO in Minneapolis in 2019 and had only four wins under his belt before picking up the WBA’s admittedly dubious second-tier “world” title—Álvarez holds the full-fledged crown—with another first-round stoppage in 2021.
Three more fights have yielded three more KOs across three more “title defenses” lasting a combined 20 rounds, lifting Morrell’s still fledgling record to 8-0 with 7 KOs.
The Ring has him fourth among Álvarez’s ranked contenders—trailing Benavidez, Plant and imminent May opponent John Ryder—and the 6’1″ southpaw with a 78.5-inch reach is already well-rehearsed in proclaiming his elite status.
“I still have many things to conquer in the division,” he told BoxingScene in 2021. “The truth is that I am the best, but not legally because I do not have all the titles. At the moment I am among the four [champions], from there to [No.] 1 there is little left.”
Jermall Charlo
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If you’re looking for heat, look at Jermall Charlo.
He and Benavidez have had one another’s names in their mouths for qu
Former two-time WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs) puts his interim title on the line when he faces former IBF champion Caleb Plant (22-1, 13 KOs) this Saturday, March 25 in the main event live on Showtime PPV from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Two days away from the event, the fighters hosted a final pre-fight press conference at KA Theatre at MGM Grand.
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Also partaking in the press conference were the co-main even fighters, Jesus Alejandro Ramos (19-0, 15 KOs) and Joey Spencer (16-0, 10 KOs), who meet in the ten-round super welterweight fight. As well, Chris Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) and Jose Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KOs), who battle it out in the ten-round lightweight bout. Plus, Cody Crowley (21-0, 9 KOs) and Abel Ramos (27-5-2, 21 KOs), who square off in the ten-round welterweight telecast opener. Check out below that the participants had to say.
In Australia, Benavidez vs Plant airs live on Sunday, March 26 on Main Event on Kayo.
David Benavidez
“I’m gonna break Caleb’s jaw on Saturday night, by the sixth round.
“I’ve been working extremely hard and I’m super ready. All the talk is done. I see Caleb has been doing that grave digging gesture, but he’s digging his own grave. We’re gonna see what that chin is like on Saturday.
“We worked so hard. I’m definitely the harder puncher. I’ve had this power. I’ve just tweaked it and now I’m even stronger. This is a boxer versus a pressure fighter. We’re coming out on top.
“Every time he fights a real true super middleweight, he gets hurt. He’s gonna be in there with the hardest hitting and most accurate fighter in the weight class. We’re gonna see what’s up.
“I gave him all of my attention. Back in the day I hit hard, but I didn’t really train that hard. Now that I’ve really prepared myself, I’m really dangerous and he should be worried. He definitely gave me the extra motivation because I really don’t like this guy and I want to shut him up. I’m definitely going to be pushing for the knockout every single round.
David Benavidez at press conference | Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
“Caleb is a good boxer with speed who moves around well. I’ve hurt everyone I’ve gotten in the ring with, and I can’t say the same for him. I guarantee I’m gonna hurt him.
“I just told him I was going to break his jaw. You know how it goes between me and Caleb Plant. I really don’t like that guy at all…This is definitely the grudge match that everybody wants to see.
“Caleb Plant doesn’t like me and I don’t like him, but it’s a classic fight between a really good boxer and a really good puncher. He’s going to be running all night and it’s going to be a cat and mouse game for me. I definitely have to be on my p’s and q’s.
“The winner is right there in position to fight for all the belts. But I’m not worried about anything else except this fight. I have to win this fight before I can get where I want to go.”
Caleb Plant
“The fans are going to see me get my hand raised. That’s what I’m guaranteeing.
“I appreciate everyone showing up today. We’re gonna put on a big fight Saturday. That’s what boxing needs and what the sport is all about.
“I’ve worked extremely hard for this fight. I don’t care if he’s already on weight. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Welcome to the club.
“You got your newfound muscles that you’ve been showing off all week. Welcome to the club. I don’t need the right oppo
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) puts his undisputed super middleweight title on the line when he faces John Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday, May 6. Making the second defense of his crown and battling it out in front of his home country crowd for the first time in over eleven and a half years, the champion faces the mandatory challenger from England, who makes his second attempt to claim world title. The pair squares off in the scheduled for 12 rounds bout live stream on DAZN.
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Following a kickoff press conference held in Guadalajara earlier this week, the fighters hosted a launch press conference at Petco Park Stadium, home of the San Diego Padres.
‘It’s going to be a danger for me, but I feel good’
Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) is coming off the win by unanimous decision scored last September in Las Vegas when he won the trilogy fight against his old foe Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and retained his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts. In May 2022, the 32-year-old native of Guadalajara, Jalisco failed his attempt to become a two-time light heavyweight champion dropping a UD against current WBA titleholder Dmitry Bivol.
“The press conference in Guadalajara was an unbelievable moment for me because I saw my grandma, my dad, my mom, my brothers, my family there,” said Canelo Alvarez whose last fight in Mexico goes back to November 2011 when he stopped Kermit Cintron in the eleventh round. “A lot of media guys I saw when I started boxing. For me, I feel very proud and happy to bring this fight to Guadalajara and give the people some of the experience I have in other places as the best in the world.”
“I think it’s the perfect time. A long time ago I wanted to fight in Guadalajara, but I think this is the perfe
With barely a month left, the hype around one of the year’s most significant fights between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia is increasing by leaps and bounds. Aside from the regular fans and pundits voicing their justifications on who would be the winner, many current and former boxers seem to be putting their two cents in. The fight draws in two of the biggest hands in the Lightweight division. While both fighters have enjoyed a spotless career so far, any feature that lends the other a clear advantage is getting picked for immediate discussion. But Canelo Alvarez seems to think otherwise.
Israeli-American sports reporter Elie Seckbach who runs the sports channel ESNEWS on YouTube, spoke to the undisputed Super Middleweight champion today. The latter was at the press conference of his upcoming fight against British boxer John Ryder.
The first need is that you be a competent fighter – Canelo Alvarez
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So during the photo ops, Seckbach asked whether he’d seen the Davis-Garcia press conference and his overall impression. Canelo responded that he saw the highlights. But, the ESNEWS founder continued, “Ryan is a bit taller against Gervonta.”
Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) defends his undisputed super middleweight title against challenger from England, John Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) on Saturday, May 6 at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The pair squares off in the scheduled for 12 rounds world championship bout live on DAZN. Ahead of the event, the fighters host a launch press conference at Petco Park Stadium, San Diego.
In the UK and Australia, Canelo vs Ryder airs live on Sunday, May 7.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Canelo Álvarez will return to the ring May 6 in his native Guadalajara, Mexico, to defend his four super middleweight title belts against Britain’s John Ryder.
Promoter Matchroom Boxing announced Álvarez’s next fight Tuesday. The bout will be at Akron Stadium, the home of Mexican soccer club Chivas.
Álvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) is fighting for the first time since he won the final bout in his famed trilogy with Gennady Golovkin by unanimous decision last September. Álvarez also will be fighting one year after his one-sided upset loss to Dmitry Bivol in a light heavyweight
Canelo Alvarez is going home, and he’s taking a huge event with him. The four-division world champ announced today that he will defend his undisputed super middleweight title on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Guadalajara, Mexico. He will meet WBO interim champ John Ryder.
Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KO) bounced back from a loss to Dmitry Bivol in his chance to claim a 175-pound bout with a decisio
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has a date and location for his next fight scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at Akron Stadium in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, where he faces John Ryder. Battling it out in front of his home country crowd on Cinco de Mayo weekend, the Mexican boxing star defends his undisputed super middleweight title against WBO mandatory challenger from England. The pair squares off in the scheduled for 12 rounds world championship bout live stream on DAZN PPV in the United States and Canada, and DAZN in other countries.
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The date when Canelo vs Ryder airs live in the UK and Australia is Sunday, May 7.
Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) was in action last September at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he made the first successful defense of his undisputed 168-pound crown and retained his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO belts, scoring a unanimous decision against his old r
