The risks in Canelo Alvarez’s 2026 unification bid
Canelo Alvarez faces significant obstacles to reclaiming his super-middleweight title in 2026, including rising threats from Edgar Berlanga and David Benavidez. Turki Alalshikh's Riyadh Season cards further complicate his path by dominating major boxing dates and talent.
A messy path to the title
I view the path for Canelo Alvarez to reclaim a 168-pound world title as messy. He lost his undisputed super middleweight title to Terence Crawford on September 13 via unanimous decision. Canelo now faces recovery from elbow surgery, which pushes his potential return back to mid-2026. To stay active, trainer Eddy Reynoso wants a third fight against Gennady Golovkin in Mexico, potentially in Guadalajara or Mexico City. GGG turns 40 during Canelo’s next fight in May and currently plans to fight Murata in Japan this December. I find this GGG pursuit suspicious because GGG is an aging fighter who has already lost his peak. Many observers claim Canelo’s team takes advantage of "Father Time" by targeting fighters who are over the hill. Critics call this a dodge move because Canelo previously fought the 40-year-old GGG and won. Does fighting a fighter who is past his prime actually help Canelo’s legacy?
Berlanga and Benavidez threats
Edgar Berlanga and David Benavidez present significant obstacles to any 2026 unification plans. Berlanga, the 25-year-old Brooklyn star with a 20-0 record and 16 knockouts, signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom to renew the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry following his loss in September 2024. He currently sits at number 4 with the WBO and IBF and number 6 with the WBA. Berlanga, who previously secured the vacant WBO NABO super-middleweight belt in October 2021 by defeating Marcelo Coceres, aims to beat Jaime Munguia first. He still carries the reputation of his June 11 fight against Roamer Alexis Angulo, where he drew a six-month suspension and a $10,000 fine from the New York State Athletic Commission for an attempted bite. You should watch how these two rising stars navigate their respective paths toward the 168-pound throne. Benavidez also remains a threat, as the 31-year-old WBC Light Heavyweight Champion with 31 wins and 25 knockouts insists a 2026 clash will exceed the scale of the GGG trilogy. The 31-year-old Benavidez, who defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June, recently stopped Anthony Yarde in the seventh round in Riyadh, a fighter who has previously suffered stoppage losses to Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez intends to fight at 175 against the winner of the Beterbiev and Bivol bout.
Riyadh Season dominance
Turki Alalshikh controls the major boxing dates through the Riyadh Season. On February 22, Alalshikh scheduled a seven-fight mega-event including the Beterbiev vs. Bivol rematch for the WBO, WBC, IBF, and WBA belts and Daniel Dubois against Joseph Parker. This concentration of talent in Saudi Arabia limits Canelo’s ability to command the spotlight. Alalshikh also promotes fighters like Hamzah Sheeraz and Shakur Stevenson, who compete on high-profile cards. Sheeraz, who defeated Tyler Denny in the 11th round, will face Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight strap. Canelo has two fights remaining on his contract with Turki. I see the risk of being sidelined by these stacked cards. The 31-year-old Benavidez already secured a May 2 date for his fight against Gilberto Ramirez, which directly challenges the traditional dominance Canelo held during the Cinco de Mayo period. The US pay-per-view price for the February Riyadh card sits at $25.99. Vergil Ortiz Jr. will also defend his WBC interim super welterweight belt against Israil Madrimov on this card. Madrimov recently lost to Terence Crawford in Los Angeles. Daniel Dubois, who shocked the boxing world by dropping Anthony Joshua four times, will attempt to defend his IBF heavyweight title against the former champion Parker, who previously beat Deontay Wilder in December. The sheer volume of these scheduled events creates a crowded environment for any single fighter to dominate.
