“I like a challenge”: Canelo names potential opponent following Crawford retirement

Canelo Alvarez was beaten for just the third time in 68 fights last year, surrendering his undisputed super-middleweight title to Terence Crawford. It is a defeat that he will not get the chance to avenge.

A few months on from that career-defining victory, Crawford announced his retirement from the sport of boxing, exiting with his undefeated record in tact and as a five-weight world champion.

Speaking on the Mr Verzace podcast, Canelo said that he has now accepted ‘Bud’s decision to retire, but will always feel that a rematch was deserved.

“Of course. I always give him his credit, but we need to run it back. After the fight I said we need to run back this fight because I don’t feel the way I really want. I need to make this fight happen again, and it’s gonna be different. I think for him to deserve all the credit, he needs to give me the rematch. But he decided to retire and we need to accept that and move forward … I think the rematch would be perfect for boxing, but it is what it is.”

With ‘Bud’ showing no signs of making a u-turn on his decision to hang up the gloves, Canelo was asked about another potential avenue of avenging a defeat – Dmitry Bivol.

“Why not? We’ll see in the future. If it makes sense, why not? Like I say, I always like a challenge.”

Bivol has recently said that he is open to a return fight with the Mexican icon after outpointing him back in 2022. However, he also has eyes on a trilogy fight with Artur Beterbiev, an intriguing clash of styles against Davis Benavidez and a move up to cruiserweight.

Alvarez is set to return this September in Saudi Arabia, with an opponent to be announced in due course.