Canelo On His Retirement – ‘Maybe Two Years’

Canelo Alvarez revealed that he expects to remain active for at least two more years before retiring.

Canelo is coming off a loss to Terence Crawford last September, which cost him his Undisputed Super Middleweight Title. Alvarez recently signed a four-fight agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season. After a lengthy layoff following surgery to repair his left elbow in October 2025 after the Crawford loss, his comeback plan is officially taking shape.

Canelo will return on September 12, 2026, in Riyadh. The event will serve as the inaugural card for Canelo Promotions. While his opponent is yet to be announced, it is expected to be a big bout. Under his current contract, Canelo is expected to fight twice more after the September date—likely in February 2026 (delayed to later this year/early 2027) and a final showcase in October 2026. Although Canelo stated he does not need to continue fighting, he vocal about enjoying the sport.

“I don’t know. I’m thinking maybe two years. I don’t need it, [but] I still enjoy it. If I [fight] once a year, maybe [I can go on] a little bit [longer]. Once a year, for me to rest my body, I think I can fight more [than two years],” Canelo said 

Options

David Benavidez represents the most dangerous physical threat at 175 lbs. Now that Canelo is under the Riyadh Season banner—where the “avoidance” narrative is harder to maintain—this fight stands as the most lucrative domestic clash available. It would be the “passing of the torch” or a definitive statement that Canelo remains the king of Mexican boxing.

Canelo could also target other names at 175. A rematch with Bivol remains the “one that got away.” Correcting that 2022 loss would arguably be the greatest achievement of Canelo’s career. If the aging Beterbiev still holds world titles in 2026/2027, Canelo might see an opportunity to hunt for a title at 175 again.

Canelo may also look toward the mandatory challengers who have been waiting in the wings. Christian Mbilli offers a competitive fight, while the young Diego Pacheco represents the next generation of super-middleweight talent. These fights would allow Canelo to headline major events as a favorite while still defending his status against good opposition.