Canelo Alvarez targeted for ‘firefight’ against 6 ft 3 world champion

Canelo Alvarez is set to challenge for the WBC super-middleweight world title next month in an attempt to regain the 168lb throne. Should he be successful, a ‘firefight’ could be waiting for him.

Terence Crawford brought an end to Canelo’s reign as the undisputed super-middleweight world champion 12 months ago, but ‘Bud’ retired shortly after the win and the belts were subsequently reassigned, whilst Canelo was sidelined through injury.

On Halloween, Canelo seeks to dethrone one of those new champions as he collides with WBC titleholder Christian Mbilli, atop a mammoth ‘Mexico vs. The World’ bill in Riyadh, which already features three world title bouts.

On the Mr Verzace Podcast, reigning WBO super-middleweight world champion Hamzah Sheeraz shared his keenness for a unification clash against the Mexican superstar, if he is able to get the better of Mbilli.

“Absolutely, [I want Canelo if he beats Mbilli]. Listen, I have got to keep doing my thing, keep winning, keep putting on big performances, moving forwards and he has got to do the same. 

“He is a legend of the sport. If the fight happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I will continue to be the best version of myself that I could be, but yeah it would be an absolute honour to share the ring with him.

“I think that it would be a firefight, for sure.”

Canelo-Mbilli is set for October 31. Sheeraz has been ordered to take on his mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly next in order to avoid being stripped of his world title, with a purse bid hearing scheduled for this Wednesday, September 16.