Let’s cut to the chase: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez faces a make-or-break year in 2025.
Once heralded as boxing’s pound-for-pound king and its undisputed “face,” Alvarez now finds himself at a crossroads. A string of underwhelming matchups and the lingering shadow of his 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol have cast doubt over his standing in the sport. Where fans once viewed “Canelo” as a fearless challenger taking on all comers, many now accuse him of cherry-picking opponents and avoiding the riskiest fights.
That narrative has only gained momentum after his 2024 campaign: A decision victory over Jaime Munguia in May to retain his undisputed super middleweight title, followed by a unanimous decision win over Edgar Berlanga in September. While Munguia and Berlanga are capable fighters, neither ranks near the caliber of Alvarez’s past opponents like Gennadiy Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev or even Bivol. These fights lacked significance, especially when compared to the feats of other boxing elites in 2024.
Terence Crawford moved up to claim his first super welterweight title. Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. Naoya Inoue defended his undisputed super bantamweight crown twice and already has a third defense scheduled for December. Even Artur Beterbiev, Alvarez’s potential foil at light heavyweight, captured undisputed status by edging out Bivol — the man who bested “Canelo” two years ago and sent him down this meandering career side road.
The question now is clear: Does Alvarez still want to make the best fights or is he just in it for the money?
The Bivol loss exposed cracks in his dominance, and since then, it’s a stark fact that he’s become more risk-averse. Alvarez continues to dismiss that criticism, claiming his résumé speaks for itself — “I don’t need to prove anything to anyone,” he said after defeating Berlanga — but boxing is unforgiving. Alvarez is 34, and the perception of him dodging top-tier opponents threatens to tarnish his legacy. For a fighter who has long chased greatness, the optics of avoiding challenges like David Benavidez, Crawford, and even a Bivol rematch are damaging. At this point, the whispers are becoming only louder.
If Alvarez intends to reclaim his reputation, his next move is critical. The most obvious route to silence critics is a super-fight with Crawford. It’s a clash between two top-five pound-for-pound legends that would command massive purses and global attention. Yet Alvarez has repeatedly downplayed the matchup, claiming his size advantage would diminish his victory in the eyes of the boxing world.
“If I beat him, nobody’s going to say, ‘Oh, he beat Crawford because [Alvarez is] a good fighter,’” Alvarez said after his Berlanga win. “But if the money’s right, why not?”
The possibility of a Crawford fight largely hinges on a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, but “Canelo” has publicly clashed with the Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh, who infamously dismissed Alvarez as someone seeking “easy fights” and accused him of avoiding meaningful challenges like Crawford and Benavidez.
Beyond Crawford, potential opponents are dwindling. Benavidez and David Morrell, two highly touted contenders at super middleweight who Alvarez either coincidentally or willfully avoided — despite the former being Alvarez’s WBC mandatory opponent for more than two years — have both moved up to light heavyweight and secured victories in their new division. They’re now set to face off on Feb. 1, with the winner likely earning a shot at the unified light heavyweight champion. A rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol for that same undisputed crown further complicates Alvarez’s path to 175 pounds, pushing any potential meaningful fight in that division to late 2025 or beyond. Alvarez, in many ways, has gotten left behind.
The Chris Eubank Jr. option, which once seemed viable, is losing steam as Eubank’s team pursues a rebooked bout with Conor Benn. Following Benn’s legal vindication, the U.K. market is eager for the long-awaited showdown. A small glimmer of hope is Benn’s team is also reportedly in talks with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for a title shot. If Benn fights Barrios, then it frees up Eubank for Alvarez’s usual Cinco de Mayo date, but a Benn-Eubank agreement would leave Alvarez again without a marquee name for May 2025.
As his options dwindle, “Canelo” and his team may have to think outside the box to find his next opponent. Jake Paul’s name has inevitably entered the conversation. While Alvarez has repeatedly dismissed the idea of facing the YouTuber-turned-boxer, the chatter persists because of Paul’s ability to draw massive attention and money, as evidenced by the many otherworldly numbers that trickled out after Netflix’s Mike Tyson sideshow. Such a matchup would be another carnival, diluting Alvarez’s hard-earned reputation even further, but it underscores how limited his options have become.
Jermall Charlo could present a more respectable challenge. Fans have long wanted Alvarez to face Charlo, who boasts an undefeated record but has fought only once since June 2021. While Charlo lacks momentum, his name recognition and unbeaten status might entice Alvarez if bigger fights fail to materialize.
Younger contenders like Christian Mbilli and Diego Pacheco are also on the radar. A tentatively scheduled bout between the two early in 2025 could establish a clear challenger, but neither possesses the star power to draw widespread excitement.
For Alvarez, the path forward requires bold decisions and a willingness to take risks. If he truly wants to cement his legacy as the greatest Mexican-born boxer of all time, he must chase the toughest fights available — even if it means swallowing his pride.
That leaves him with four viable paths forward in 2025.
1. Fight Terence Crawford. This is the fight that would silence critics, elevate Alvarez’s legacy, and generate massive pay-per-view revenue. Alvarez’s concerns about Crawford’s size disadvantage hold weight, but a victory over a pound-for-pound great of Crawford’s stature would be undeniable.
2. Pursue David Benavidez. Fans have clamored for this fight for years. Even with Benavidez now at light heavyweight, Alvarez could easily secure a catchweight bout or step up to 175 pounds to face him.
3. Rematch Dmitry Bivol. Redemption matters in boxing, and a victory over the man who dealt Alvarez his most decisive loss would go a long way in restoring his reputation.
4. Avoid Sideshow fights. While names like Jake Paul would bring financial rewards, they risk undermining everything Alvarez has built. At this stage, his legacy must come first.
“Canelo” has spent more than 15 years captivating fans with his talent and — at least until recently — willingness to take on the best. But the next chapter of his career requires him to recalibrate and embrace the challenges that will define his final years in the ring. His legacy depends on it.
