Canelo Alvarez probably returning May 2, as expected

It was always expected that Canelo Alvarez would return to action on May 2, as the Mexican superstar looks to take over Cinco de Mayo weekend as an annual attraction, and now ESPN.com are confirming that’s Golden Boy’s plan.

The more intriguing question, of course, is whom Alvarez selects as an opponent. Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez says he feels 168 would be Canelo’s best division right now, but that options are open from 160 to 175.

The 29-year-old Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KO) fought at 160 and 175 in 2019, beating Daniel Jacobs on May 4 at middleweight and Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 2 at light heavyweight. He won the WBO light heavyweight title by knocking out Kovalev, but vacated that belt six weeks later.

If he fights at 168 next, there are potential fights with WBA titleholder Callum Smith and WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders. Both are promoted by Matchroom Boxing, with whom Golden Boy have a strong working relationship as both are tied to DAZN as far as their broadcast platform.

Moving back down all the way to 160 might be a little risky, but Alvarez does still have the WBA title in that weight class, and a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin definitely still has box office appeal.

Alvarez, though, is known for throwing curveballs people don’t see coming when it comes to opponents — nobody was really expecting Amir Khan, Rocky Fielding, or Kovalev, for recent fights — so we’ll have to wait and see. He might do something we expect, he might move up to cruiserweight. Canelo is a mystery.