Canelo Álvarez plans 2026 Guadalajara homecoming after Berlanga win

The return to Jalisco

Canelo Alvarez approaches a return to his native Jalisco after 12 years away from the region. Negotiators favor the Monumental Estadio Jalisco for a fight scheduled on May 6 against John Ryder. This bout follows a requirement from the World Boxing Council. The governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro, stated in a press conference that the possibility of seeing Alvarez fight in the land where he was born remains very close as authorities provide support to ensure the event succeeds. Canelo’s return to his home soil is inevitable. Negotiators previously considered the Akron Stadium, Estadio 3 de marzo, and Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso. However, these venues have smaller capacities or different logistical constraints. Canelo last fought in Guadalajara in 2011 when he defeated Matthew Hatton in March and Ryan Rhodes in June. The VFG Arena, which Vicente Fernandez owned, hosted the 2011 fight. The discussion regarding the venue includes the potential conflict with the Atlas soccer team. If Atlas qualifies for the playoffs of the 2023 Closing Tournament of Liga MX, the match at the Jalisco Stadium might require a Sunday schedule. This presents a logistical challenge for preparing the stadium just one day after the boxing event. Will the capacity of the Monumental Estadio Jalisco accommodate the expected demand? You should prepare for high ticket prices given the scale of the event.

The recent battle in Vegas

Canelo Alvarez defeated Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision on September 14 at the T-Mobile Arena. The judges scored the bout 117-110, 118-109, and 118-109 to favor the Mexican champion. This victory extended his four-fight win streak since 2022. Berlanga, the top-ranked fighter in the WBA super middleweight rankings, aims to capitalize on his multi-fight deal with Matchroom. He previously knocked out Padraig McCrory in the sixth round in February. Although Berlanga intends to shock the world, Canelo remains the dominant force in the division. The fight results leave the IBF title situation in flux because Canelo will lose that belt by fight night. This outcome affects the four-belt middleweight unification tournament enforcement. Berlanga attempts to reclaim what he calls his heritage following the loss. The undercard also saw Erislandy Lara defeat Danny Garcia via a ninth-round TKO to defend the WBA middleweight title. Caleb Plant also secured a ninth-round TKO against Trevor McCumby for the WBA interim super middleweight title. Rolando Romero defeated Manuel Jaimes via unanimous decision. Stephen Fulton defeated Carlos Castro via split decision. Ricardo Salas defeated Roman Villa via a third-round knockout.

Economics and purse details

The financial figures surrounding Canelo Alvarez’s career vary significantly based on the opponent and the venue. He collected $40 million for his fight against Caleb Plant and approximately $45 million for the trilogy fight against Gennadiy Golovkin. In his bout against Jermell Charlo, he earned between $25 million and $30 million. Against Dmitry Bivol, he had a guaranteed purse of $15 million. Berlanga reportedly made six figures in his fight against Jason Quigley.

The scale of the Guadalajara event requires high ticket sales to cover organizational costs. Negotiators considered the Monumental Estadio Jalisco because it has greater capacity and lower rent than other options. The decision to avoid the Akron Stadium stems from the need for larger crowds. The fight in Las Vegas cost $89.99 on pay per view. Tickets for the T-Mobile Arena event started north of $400, with floor seats reaching $8,000. Canelo’s previous fight against John Ryder included a rumored $10 million pay cut to facilitate a contest in Mexico. Canelo made $12 million against Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and $25 million against Amir Khan in 2016.