Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez’s loss to Terence Crawford sent shockwaves through the boxing world. Crawford’s unanimous decision victory not only disrupted the established hierarchy but also raised questions about what will happen when the Mexican superstar finally hangs up his gloves.
With more than 20 years as a professional, 68 fights under his belt, and a record of 63 wins (39 by knockout), three losses, and two draws, the Guadalajara native is now closer to retirement than to his prime.
For many observers, the defeat to Crawford on September 13-combined with a lackluster win over William Scull on May 3-signals the beginning of the end of Alvarez’s storied career.
Adding to the uncertainty, surgery on his left elbow-which forced him to cancel his traditional Cinco de Mayo weekend fight-has fueled speculation about who might succeed Canelo as the “face of boxing.”
The candidates to take Canelo’s place
ESPN analyst Saul Trujano recently predicted that “world boxing will try to reinvent itself in 2026,” beginning a transition away from Alvarez.
Although Canelo has announced he will be ready to fight on September 16, Trujano posed the critical question: “Can other Mexicans put on a better show than Canelo has?”
He highlighted four possible successors: Rafael “Divino” Espinoza, Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, and-above them all-David Benavidez.
“Benavidez is among the best pound-for-pound fighters, and with him comes the business acumen needed for a new Mexican star,” Trujano asserted. He added that this will become clear in Benavidez’s upcoming bout.
Can Benavidez fill Canelo’s shoes?
On May 2, “The Mexican Monster” will face Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez in Las Vegas in a cruiserweight clash. The fight will serve as a crucial test for Benavidez-not only in the ring but also in terms of ratings and pay-per-view sales.
Trujano believes this matchup “could be the start of a new era without Canelo Alvarez,” emphasizing that it may mark the first step in boxing’s gradual move away from Canelo’s image.
Meanwhile, Alvarez has focused on recovery, spending time on the golf course, and strategizing how to keep Crawford from retiring-hoping to secure the longawaited rematch.
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