Canelo Alvarez finally vacates WBA middleweight title

For the first time since 2015, Canelo Alvarez does not hold a middleweight title. The WBA’s newest rankings reveal that the Mexican superstar has vacated his WBA “super” belt, which he last defended against Daniel Jacobs May of 2019.

This comes as no surprise; Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KO) is presently chasing unification at 168 pounds, where he claimed the WBC and WBA “super” titles with a dominant decision over Callum Smith last month.

Two WBA middleweight titlists remain: “world” champion Ryota Murata (16-2, 13 KO), last seen smashing Steven Butler 12 months back, and interim champion Chris Eubank Jr. (29-2, 22 KO), who won the belt when Matt Korobov’s shoulder gave out. In a sane world, Murata would be elevated to “super” champ, but that’s far from a given; the WBA notably granted Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz “super” super featherweight titles despite a preexisting “world” champion in Andrew Cancio because they are cretins.

They also haven’t elevated Xu Can to “super” featherweight champion despite Santa Cruz leaving the division ages ago.

What I’m saying is to expect Eubank against #5 Sergio Martinez for the “super” belt by the end of spring.