According to reports, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is soon to be three-belt super-middleweight champion rather than four.
The elite Mexican started collecting belts in the 168 ranks back in 2018 with a win over Rocky Fielding to snatch the WBA title.
He would beat Callum Smith two years later to add the vacant WBC strap before stopping Billy Joe Saunders for the WBO.
A win over Caleb Plant to secure the IBF made him super-middleweight ruler supreme, but it’s that belt he looks set to hand back in 2024.
The sanctioning body has called for Canelo to face his mandatory challenger, William Scull. The undefeated Cuban is in the number one spot and purse bids had been ordered for June 6. Boxing Scene reports that the champion won’t participate and therefore vacate the IBF. Should that be the case, Scull will fight for the vacant belt.
Given it’s not one of the super fights Canelo is accustomed to, fans will understand the decision. They will, however, be glad it’s not the WBC he is dropping given the demand for a fight against that sanctioning body’s top contender, David Benavidez.
The undefeated 27-year-old has been calling for his shot at Alvarez for years now, but has been shot down by the champion time and again, so much so that he has decided to make the move up to light-heavyweight to pursue belts there while he waits.
Canelo’s next move isn’t clear following his points victory earlier over Jaime Munguia earlier this month. He is expected to return to the ring in September. Another mandatory challenger in the WBA’s Edgar Berlanga awaits.
