Canelo Alvarez will return against William Scull next week, and Terence Crawford later this year, though one Brit may get his shot at Canelo in 2026.
Canelo will face undefeated William Scull next, and is booked for the rest of the year as a mega-fight with Terence Crawford looms, however, there is one Brit who fans now believe has his case for a fight with the pound-for-pound elite.
Chris Eubank Jr. defeated Conor Benn in a thrilling fight watched by over 65,000 fans in the venue and a great deal more on television. Though he beat Benn and fans have called for the Canelo fight, if he is anything like Canelo’s eight other British opponents, it won’t go too well.
Canelo stopped five of his eight British opponents
The first Brit to step up to the plate against Canelo was Matthew Hatton, brother of Ricky Hatton, in 2011.
Hatton did what his British counterparts would not be able to, and went the distance with Canelo, though lost in a shutout decision for the vacant WBC super-welterweight world title.
In his first defense, Canelo faced another Brit, Ryan Rhodes, who was 45-4 when challenging a 36-0-1 Canelo. Canelo’s one draw came against a journeyman early in his career. Rhodes was stopped in the very last round.
Canelo didn’t fight another Brit for five years until in 2016 he fought Amir Khan and produced one of the most brutal knockouts of his career to date. Canelo’s KO of Khan left him flat on his back, seemingly unaware of what hit him.
The Mexican star produced another knockout in his follow-up fight against Liam Smith, whose blood adorns Chris Eubank Jr.’s new jacket, stopping him in the ninth round.
Two years later Rocky Fielding got his shot, and even though Canelo was negotiating his brother’s kidnapping release ahead of the fight, he knocked out Fielding quicker than he had done any other Brit in the third round.
The penultimate Brit was another Smith brother, this time Callum Smith, who became the second Englishman to go the distance with Canelo, though also lost a wide points decision.
2021 saw Canelo KO Billy Joe Saunders after fracturing his eye socket, and that was the last time a Brit was stopped by the elite talent. John Ryder was the final Brit to face Canelo in 2023, and the third to survive his onslaught.
The coach of Chris Eubank Jr.’s former rival wants to see him land Canelo fight
Joe Gallagher, former coach to Liam Smith, has become one of many voices who, after the enthralling fight on Saturday, has suggested Eubank Jr. has earned his shot against Canelo.
He posted on X: “Like see Chris Eubank Jr. move back up 168 and have his big pay day v Canelo next at Wembley or spurs in September . Canelo has always wanted fight in Uk.”
The fight would surely generate a buzz and UK fans would be keen to have Canelo on British soil, though Eubank has many potential options next, and it is unclear what will happen.