Canelo Alvarez is expected to return to the ring in May 2025.
The 34-year-old was last in action in September when he retained his unified super-middleweight titles with a unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Edgar Berlanga.
Alvarez was undisputed prior to that bout, but was stripped of his IBF belt for opting to face Berlanga rather than a less marketable fight against mandatory challenger William Scull.
Attention has now turned to who Canelo will face next, with a showdown against unbeaten puncher David Benavidez always high on the agenda of boxing fans.
Despite several years of links, the fight is still yet to transpire, and Benavidez revealed to ESNews that he no longer had the fight at the top of his priorities.
“Right now I’ve moved on.”
Benavidez did concede that he thinks it will happen at some stage, but that it could take up to five years before he’s in the ring with Alvarez.
“Eventually it will happen because I’m not going to lose to nobody, and I don’t think he’s going to lose to anybody either. Maybe it doesn’t happen now but it could happen in five years because I don’t see Canelo retiring any time soon.”
Benavidez has recently moved up to light-heavyweight, with a date of February 1 recently reported for his planned clash with WBA Regular champion David Morrell. Should he win he will hold onto the WBC Interim title that puts him in line to face undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev.
As for Canelo, there aren’t many huge nights or big challenges out there for him. Benavidez is widely considered his biggest test at 168 pounds. If that it off the table for now, as well as a desired rematch with Dmitry Bivol who is expected to face Beterbiev in an immediate rematch, the Mexican may reconsider an offer to face Terence Crawford, who is willing to jump up two divisions for the challenge.
