Canelo Alvarez Accepts No Crawford Rematch, Targets September Return

Canelo Alvarez has accepted that a rematch with Terence Crawford will not happen. Five months after losing his undisputed crown, he returns September 12 in Saudi Arabia with a new title path forming

Canelo Alvarez is still answering for the night Terence Crawford stepped up two divisions and took his undisputed crown. Speaking with Rick Reeno of The Ring, Canelo addressed the defeat directly while confirming his return date and closing the door on any immediate rerun.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) struggled to impose himself when Crawford moved up two divisions and took the undisputed super middleweight title in September. Crawford kept him reset, denied sustained pressure, and won a wide decision in Las Vegas. Five months later, following elbow surgery and a prolonged recovery period, Alvarez is set to return September 12 in Saudi Arabia.

The opponent will not be Crawford. Canelo made clear he wanted a second fight, but accepted that option no longer exists.

“Of course [I was upset he retired before we could have a rematch],” Alvarez told Reeno on the Mr. Verzace Podcast. “I always give him all the credit, but we need to run it back. After the fight I told him we need to because I didn’t feel the way I really wanted. I need to make this fight happen again. It’s going to be different.”

Alvarez points to physical failure while shifting focus toward a new championship path

Alvarez offered a frank explanation for why the night slipped away from him. He did not point to one mistake or one round. He pointed to a body that never responded the way it usually does at championship pace.

“A lot of things went wrong. My body didn’t respond the way I really wanted,” he said. “I wanted to move faster, and this and that, and I didn’t recuperate the way that I needed. My legs felt a little bit tired, too. But Crawford deserves all the credit. He had a better strategy than me.”

He added that the corner instructions were there, but execution never followed.

“Eddy Reynoso was telling me everything I needed to do, and I tried. But my body wasn’t responding. I had cramps in my legs.”

The tone was reflective rather than defensive. Alvarez acknowledged mistakes in preparation and accepted the result without hedging. He also underlined that the loss has not altered his direction.

Alvarez remains a two-time undisputed champion at 168 pounds and intends to fight for a world title again. During The Ring Awards, he posed alongside newly elevated WBC champion Christian Mbilli and Turki Alalshikh.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) fits the billing of a pressure fighter with volume and youth. He was featured on the Crawford undercard and later addressed the idea directly.

Alvarez will be 36 when he returns for his 69th fight, carrying 532 professional rounds into the ring. He is The Ring’s No. 1 contender at super middleweight and recently dropped from the pound-for-pound list for the first time in more than a decade.

The Crawford fight closed one chapter. September opens another. Alvarez made it clear he plans to choose it on his terms.