By Ken Hissner: With the third meeting of WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF Super Middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 58-2-2 (39), of Mexico and IBF and WBA Super Middleweight champion Gennadiy “GGG’ Golovkin, 42-2-1 (37), of Kazakhstan, finally coming to an end four years after it should have been “What Now for Canelo and GGG?”
Alvarez said with a wrist injury since the Caleb “Sweethands” Plant fight in November of 2021; he needs surgery and time off until either May or September of 2023.
The WBC’s Super Middle Silver champion and No. 1 contender is Pavel Silyagin, 11-0 (5), of Russia, who hasn’t fought out of Russia as a professional. Former IBF champion Plant, 21-1 (12), is No. 2. David Benavidez, 26-0 (23), and any Mexican’s Canelo claims he won’t fight.
While Golovkin is listed as WBA World Super champion Cuban Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, 28-3-3 (16), of Houston, Texas, is listed as the WBA World champion. A bout between the two is a possibility
WBC Middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo, 32-0 (22), has said he is vacating and moving up to super middleweight. WBC’s Silver Middleweight champion is Hamzah Sheeraz, 16-0 (12), of Great Britain. WBC’s top middleweight contender is Carlos Adames, 21-1 (16), of the Dominican Republic. No.2 is former WBO Light Middleweight champion Jaime Munguia, 40-0 (32), of Mexico. Adames and Munguia may be fighting for the vacant title if and when Charlo vacates.
IBF Latino Super Middleweight champion Cuban William “El Indomable” Scull, 19-0 (9), of Argentina, who has been fighting out of Germany is the IBF’s No. 1 contender.
WBO International Super Middleweight champion is Zach Parker, 22-0 (16), of the United Kingdom. He and the former WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, 31-0 (22), of Providence, RI, are scheduled for the vacant WBO Super Middleweight interim title.
The WBA’s No. 1 Super Middleweight contender is Aidos Yerbossynuly, 15-0 (10), of Kazakhstan.
The WBA’s No. 1 Middleweight contender is Michael Zerafa, 27-4 (16), of Australia.
IBF’s No. 1 ranked Middleweight is Esquiva Falcao, 30-0 (20), of Brazil.
The WBO Middleweight interim champion is 2016 Olympian Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, 12-0 (8), of Kazakhstan.
Golovkin has the WBA and IBF titles, so defending his WBA title would possibly be against Zerafa, and defending the IBF title would possibly be against Falcao.
