Bob Arum Reveals Canelo Alvarez's Preferred Opponent, Target Date For Next Fight

KEY POINTS

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is expected to move up to cruiserweight soon
Top Rank boss Bob Arum says there's a good chance Alvarez will be back in May
Longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso is set to reveal the Mexican superstar's next move

The boxing world waits for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s next move after a spectacular 2021.

Alvarez is currently in a situation not so new to him as he has a wide array of options in front of him once again.

Following his historic super middleweight win over Caleb Plant, Alvarez expressed his desire to jump to cruiserweight.

However, his promoter Eddie Hearn wants him to dominate the light heavyweight division first.

As things stand, two Top Rank aces are reigning in the light heavyweight division—IBF and WBC champion Artur Beterbiev and WBO champion Joe Smith Jr.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum is still unsure about the specific details of Alvarez’s next move, but based on what he has learned thus far, the Mexican superstar is eyeing a ring return in May.

"The ball is in Canelo's court," Arum told Boxing Scene. "Canelo is the biggest attraction in boxing now, he's a tremendous talent and a tremendous fighter and he more or less picks his opponents. He also tries to get the best guys.”

"So he could fight [Artur] Beterbiev, he could fight [Joe] Smith, but it's up to Canelo and I think he's looking to do a fight in May," he continued.

Canelo Alvarez (L) punches Caleb Plant during their championship bout for Alvarez's WBC, WBO and WBA super middleweight titles and Plant's IBF super middleweight title at MGM Grand Garden Arena Getty Images | Al Bello

Alvarez’s longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso previously lifted the lid on his pupil’s plans, opening the door for middleweight champions Jermall Charlo and Gennadiy Golovkin.

However, Reynoso admitted last week that there has been “no negotiation” happening yet for Alvarez’s next fight and a “something concrete” will happen anytime this week.

As for notable fighters who have the slimmest chances of getting a crack at Alvarez, Reynoso stressed that one of them is two-time WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez.

Benavidez, on the other hand, boldly demanded "Canelo" to vacate his super middleweight titles and let him compete for it.

“If [Canelo’s] he’s going to be at 168, he has to fight me,” Benavidez said. “If he’s not going to be at 168, vacate all his titles. He can pick and choose if he’s going to 175 or if he’s going to go to 200 pounds, or whatever he’s going to do. He can do whatever he wants to do. If people are saying he’s picking and choosing, that’s for other people to say.”

“My main focus is the titles,” the boxer added. “So if he’s not going to fight, he needs to vacate the titles and let me fight for the titles.”