Canelo Alvarez is hoping to re-announce himself as the man to beat in the super-middleweight division next month, as he gears up to challenge for Christian Mbilli’s WBC world title.
However, there is a new emerging threat in the 168lb division, who is planning to ‘take over’ himself.
Since losing his undisputed title to Terence Crawford, Canelo has been sidelined due to an elbow injury, but he will attempt to reclaim one of his former belts when he takes on Mbilli on the rescheduled date of Saturday, October 31, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez is not the only man looking to make a statement in the 168lb scene, as two-division world champion Jermall Charlo will make his ring return after just one fight since 2023 and two since 2021.
Charlo will take on Australia’s Koen Mazoudier in a bout that was set to feature on July’s Tszyu-Spence undercard and ‘Hit Man’ told Ring Magazine that he sees himself as ‘right in the mix’ with the top, established fighters at the weight.
“The current fighters that’s in the division, they’re aware of who I am.
“They know what I do. They know what I possess. It’s just a matter of getting those guys in the ring to make history, and I’m here for it.
“We’re not gonna just keep waiting [for] the guys who [are] at the top. I just want the top fighters, and wherever the top fighters [are], I’m here. I’m right in the mix with them. I’m new to 168. I’m here to take over 168.”
Charlo-Mazoudier will feature on the undercard of Sebastian Fundora’s WBC super-welterweight world title defence against Ermal Hadribeaj on Saturday, October 17 in Las Vegas.
In the co-main event, Brandon Figueroa will attempt a first defence of his WBA featherweight crown, tasked with Japan’s Tomoki Kameda.
