Five fighters who can beat Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez ahead of Dmitry Bivol test
Unbeaten over the past nine years since a decision loss to the now-retired Floyd Mayweather, the flame-haired Mexican has become a dominant force in the sport, picking up title after title between the 154lb and 175lb weight classes.
Now, as he prepares to challenge the unbeaten 31-year-old Russian Bivol, Planet Sport has taken a look at some of the potential opponents that could yet challenge the seemingly near-invincible Guadalajaran native in the coming months and years.
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Widely viewed as one of Canelo's most potentially dangerous opponents, the unbeaten 25-year old steps back into the ring on May 21 as he challenges David Lemieux for the vacant WBC interim super middleweight title.
Boasting explosive power and come-forward aggression, the Phoenix born fighter has displayed serious star power in his rise towards the upper echelons of the super-middleweight class. However, the confident Benavidez has expressed his doubts as to whether a bout with Alvarez will ever come to fruition.
While it's hard to disagree with that exclamation, a showdown with Alvarez would undoubtedly set pulses racing.
At 37, Beterbiev is no spring chicken but having fought just 17 times over a nine-year unbeaten professional career, the devastating Dagestan born Russian Canadian has low mileage on his clock, with all seventeen of his victories coming inside the distance.
Lacking a career-defining bout on his resume, Canelo would certainly tick the boxes for Charlo but has the unbeaten American offered enough substance to deserve a shot at boxing's 21st century Golden Boy?
As the only American on this list, there remains every chance that a financially incentivised bout with Canelo could materialise down the line.