35-Year-Old Boxer’s Surgery Shakes Up the Super-Middleweight Division
Canelo Alvarez has been boxing’s biggest attraction for more than a decade, but his latest setback could reshape the entire Super-Middleweight Division. Coming off one of the biggest fights of the decade, news broke that the Mexican star will undergo elbow surgery and is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late 2026. For a fighter who has consistently dictated the pace of boxing’s biggest events, his absence creates both uncertainty and opportunity. The question now is which contenders will step up and seize the spotlight.
Alvarez’s dominance at 168 pounds has defined the weight class. From his title unification run to high-profile defenses, his ability to control negotiations made him the gatekeeper for championship ambitions. With him out of the picture, the sanctioning bodies will be forced to reassess their title structures, and contenders long kept in Canelo’s shadow could finally emerge. Fighters like David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, and Jermall Charlo all have the chance to take meaningful steps forward, especially if titles become vacant during Canelo’s recovery.
Benavidez, in particular, becomes the central figure in this landscape. Often viewed as the most dangerous threat to Alvarez, his power, aggression, and youth make him the natural choice to assume control of the division. Without Canelo standing in his way, Benavidez could finally establish himself as the undisputed force at 168. At the same time, the absence of Canelo might also open the door for new blood to rise, creating a ranking debate that could shape the division’s future.
Beyond the immediate shifts, the 35-year-old’s surgery raises questions about his legacy. By 2026, Alvarez will be 36 years old, and returning from surgery at that stage of his career is no guarantee. If he can successfully return and reclaim his position, the storyline of redemption will only enhance his already historic résumé. However, if the division moves on and new stars solidify their reigns, Alvarez’s return could be framed more as a legacy matchup than a title fight. For fans, the potential rematch storylines could prove just as intriguing as his initial dominance.
One certainty is that boxing will not wait. In the wake of Canelo’s absence, promoters, networks, and sanctioning bodies will look to crown new faces. The Super-Middleweight division, once firmly in Alvarez’s grip, is now a battlefield wide open. As seen before in boxing history, a champion’s absence can often lead to unexpected rivalries, fresh contenders, and dramatic title fights that redefine an era. Just as the rematch between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev has raised the stakes for Light Heavyweight supremacy, the vacuum at 168 pounds promises similar fireworks.
