Canelo Álvarez will soon return to the 168lbs scene. He lost all four recognised super-middleweight world titles to Terence Crawford in September.
What happened?
Canelo Álvarez has responded to a call-out from newly crowned world champion Osleys Iglesias. Iglesias has a 90% knockout ratio, with 14 knockouts from his 15 victories.
Iglesias recently stated that Canelo Álvarez 'would not want' to face him. He believes that he would not be granted a unification opportunity despite being the reigning IBF world champion.
Why it matters for Canelo Álvarez
Canelo Álvarez told DAZN Boxing that Iglesias and Hamzah Sheeraz could earn a fight against him by facing each other first. He said they need to earn the opportunity to fight him.
Canelo Álvarez will face Christian Mbilli in September. If he is successful, he may face the winner of a potential fight between Iglesias and Sheeraz.
What comes next?
Iglesias is currently in talks for a difficult first defence against reigning WBC middleweight world champion Carlos Adames. Adames is expected to soon vacate his belt ahead of a move up to the super-middleweight division.
Canelo Álvarez's response to Iglesias' call-out has set the stage for a potential unification fight in the future. Iglesias and Sheeraz will need to face each other first to earn the opportunity to fight Canelo Álvarez.
The 168lbs scene is heating up with new players emerging. Canelo Álvarez's return to the scene will be highly anticipated, and his response to Iglesias' call-out has added fuel to the fire.
Osleys Iglesias' first title defence against Carlos Adames will be a tough test for the newly crowned champion. The outcome of this fight will have a significant impact on the 168lbs scene and Canelo Álvarez's future opponents.
Canelo Álvarez's fight against Christian Mbilli in September will be a crucial step in his journey to regain the 168lbs titles. A win against Mbilli will set him up for a potential unification fight against the winner of Iglesias and Sheeraz.
The boxing world will be watching Canelo Álvarez's return to the 168lbs scene closely. His response to Iglesias' call-out has set the stage for an exciting few months in the world of boxing.