He’s Back! Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez Announces His Return To The Ring
After months of silence and recovery, a single image was enough to reignite the conversation. The comeback is underway, but the questions remain.
The context after a career-defining defeat
Losing to Terence Crawford should not spell the end of any boxer’s career—certainly not one as accomplished as Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez. Still, there is no denying that the fight left its mark. The Mexican star saw his undisputed champion status slip away, along with part of the aura of dominance that had followed him for years.
While Canelo remains a global draw capable of filling stadiums anywhere in the world, his recent form has raised questions. He has not scored a knockout since 2021, and his high-risk challenges against Dmitry Bivol and Crawford fell well short of the desired outcome. For a superstar of his stature, the margin for error has narrowed.
Surgery, time away and a missed opportunity
Following the loss to Crawford, Álvarez faced another setback: elbow surgery in October, which halted any immediate plans for a return. That recovery even forced him to turn down a concrete opportunity to fight Osleys Iglesias for the IBF super middleweight title, a clear sign that his body was dictating the timeline.
The belts he lost to Crawford became vacant after the American’s retirement, reopening the door to a potential second run. But time waits for no one, and every fight missed only adds pressure on the Mexican icon.
The video that reignited the boxing world
That silence was broken by a simple yet powerful gesture: a video. On social media, Canelo Álvarez was seen throwing punches for the first time since his surgery, training on the rooftop of a high-performance center in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The footage confirmed two things: he is back in the gym, and his recovery is progressing better than expected. While there is speculation that he could miss his traditional Cinco de Mayo bout, all signs point to September as the most realistic window for his return to the ring. The message was clear—the process continues, but the comeback is real.
Who and when? The legacy remains intact
The big question now is the opponent. A rematch with Crawford was Canelo’s personal wish, but that option is off the table. Names like David Benavidez and Hamzah Sheeraz have surfaced, though both would represent high-risk matchups for a first fight back from injury.
Beyond the immediate future, Canelo Álvarez’s legacy remains untouched. With 63 wins (39 by KO), 3 losses and 2 draws, and more than 15 world titles across multiple divisions, his place in boxing history is secure. The Ring Magazine recently included him in its Top 10 boxers of the 21st century, ranking him tenth.
The comeback has been announced. Now, the ring awaits the final answer.
