Canelo Alvarez is anticipated to take an extended break following his recent defeat to Terrence Crawford as he undergoes elbow surgery, with recovery projected to keep him sidelined until at least April 2026. The 35-year-old fighter will require a minimum of two months to heal post-surgery and an additional 12 to 15 weeks before resuming full training, targeting a comeback in the second quarter of next year.
Reports indicate that Alvarez had been dealing with elbow pain for several weeks prior to the surgery. His loss to Crawford marked the end of his reign as the undisputed super middleweight champion, with Crawford achieving the rare feat of becoming the undisputed champion across three weight classes during the four-belt era. This defeat was Alvarez’s first since his 2022 loss against Dmitry Bivol.
The bout on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was notable as the first boxing event promoted by UFC CEO Dana White under Zuffa. Zuffa has also secured a long-term exclusive media rights agreement with Paramount+, which will stream 12 boxing events next year.
Although Alvarez has two more fights contracted with Saudi Arabian promoter Turk Alarusik, his planned fight in February is expected to be postponed due to the surgery and subsequent rehabilitation period.
Fan Take: This news is significant for fight fans as it sidelines one of the sport’s biggest stars for an extended time, potentially reshaping the super middleweight division. Alvarez’s recovery and eventual return will be highly anticipated, as it could lead to new rivalries and impactful shifts in boxing’s competitive landscape.
