Canelo Alvarez will return to the ring on September 12, 2026, and will headline a major event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Billed as “Mexico Against the World,” the show will also serve as the launch event for Canelo Promotions, with fighters from Alvarez’s team appearing across the undercard against international opposition.
The announcement, made this week with Alvarez in attendance, confirms his first fight since losing the undisputed super middleweight championship to Terence Crawford last September in Las Vegas. Alvarez hasn’t fought since that loss, which ended his second run as undisputed champion at 168 pounds and marked a rare break after more than a decade at the top.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh described the main event as a “surprise” and used language that hinted at a championship setting.
“The champion will be in the main event for a world title,” Alalshikh said on X. “It will be a surprise.”
Alalshikh did not specify whether Alvarez would compete for a recognized world title, though his wording suggested a championship setting for the main event. No sanctioning body has confirmed which belt, if any, would be involved.
With that wording in mind, the return is a more natural fit at super middleweight than at light heavyweight. A move to 175 pounds would require Alvarez to face either Dmitry Bivol, who defeated him by decision in 2022, or David Benavidez, a matchup Alvarez has never pursued despite years of public pressure. There was no indication that his return in September was intended to revisit either scenario.
At super middleweight, the title situation remains unclear. Three of the four major titles in the division are currently vacant, while Alvarez remains highly ranked across various sanctioning bodies despite the Crawford loss. That combination leaves several directions open without confirming which, if any, will be activated.
What separates this return from previous cycles is the lack of a stated competitive objective. In past years, Alvarez’s September fights have been closely tied to mandatory defenses. This time only the date and place have been set.
Alvarez returns to Riyadh on September 12.
No opponent has been announced.
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Last updated on 17/01/2026
