Canelo's September return will be vs. Jermall Charlo, per sources

It's the 1st fight of three-fight deal with PBC for boxing's biggest star

A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.

When Canelo Alvarez won the fourth belt he needed to become the first-ever undisputed super middleweight champion in November 2021 by knocking out Caleb Plant in the 11th round it finished off a one-fight deal he had made with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions for the big fight.

Now the Mexican superstar is returning to PBC and its broadcast partner Showtime, and he will be there for awhile.

Alvarez posted a brief video to his Instagram story on Thursday that showed him shadow boxing followed by a black screen with white lettering that read simply, “DONE DEAL. SEE YOU SOON. SEP. 2023.” Under those words was the PBC logo.

While Alvarez, boxing’s biggest star, did not divulge details of the deal or mention who he will fight in September, multiple sources with knowledge of the agreement told Fight Freaks Unite that Alvarez has signed a three-fight deal with PBC and that it will kick off with his sixth overall super middleweight title defense, and third of the undisputed 168-pound crown, against Jermall Charlo, the reigning WBC middleweight titleholder, who will move up in weight.

Alvarez will make a guarantee “north of $40 million” for the Charlo fight, one of the sources said.

According to the sources, the exact date and site for the fight are not set but Sept. 16 is Alvarez’s favored date because that Saturday is Mexican Independence Day — a traditional weekend for a major Mexican fight and when Alvarez typically fights each year.

The particulars of his fight date, site and opponent are expected to be announced in the next week or so, but it will headline a Showtime PPV event, the sources said.

Alvarez’s move to PBC comes after having worked with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing for six of his last seven fights (other than the Plant fight) and with DAZN for nine of his last 10 fights dating to when he first came to the streaming service as part of Golden Boy Promotions in 2018.

Since 2020, Alvarez’s fights with Hearn and DAZN were done on a fight-by-fight basis except for a two-fight deal that covered his wins over mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim and a three-belt unification fight with Billy Joe Saunders in 2021.

So, after Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs), 32, routed Matchroom Boxing fighter and WBO interim titlist John Ryder on May 6 in a Mexican homecoming fight, Alvarez was once again a promotional and broadcast free agent.

Alvarez manager/trainer Eddy Reynoso met with Haymon in recent weeks about a deal at a time when Hearn had no substantial opponents to offer him and DAZN was not overly interested in putting up big guaranteed money for Alvarez to face uninspiring opponents.

The one compelling opponent Hearn and DAZN could have matched Alvarez with was WBA light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol for a rematch of Bivol’s upset decision win in May 2022. Alvarez wanted the rematch but he and Bivol could not agree on what Bivol should make nor could they agree on the weight as Alvarez wanted to face him again for his title at light heavyweight but Bivol wanted to drop down and challenge Alvarez for his undisputed title at super middleweight.

PBC, however, has several notable opponents Alvarez could face besides Charlo, and Alvarez also had a good experience working with PBC and Showtime — where he also fought earlier in his career — for the Plant fight.

Besides Charlo, other possible PBC opponents for Alvarez include WBC interim titlist David Benavidez — easily the biggest fight for him — WBA “regular” titlist David Morrell and former middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade, who now is at super middleweight.

Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) 33, of Houston, has not boxed for two years as of this past Monday due to injuries and, according to the WBC, mental health issues. He also has never boxed above middleweight and figures to be a significant underdog against Alvarez, whom he has expressed interest in fighting for years.

A note to subscribers

I sincerely appreciate your readership. If you’re reading, it means you love boxing just like I do. If you’ve been reading you also know the quality and quantity of what I produce. It’s one-stop shopping. Read the newsletters and there is no need to search multiple websites or click a multitude of links to get the latest news, opinion and detailed fight schedule. Everything you need is in one spot and delivered directly to your inbox (or via phone alert if you download for free the superb Substack app). You don’t have to hunt for the news; it comes to you.

I believe that is worth something, so while I will continue providing stories, notes and the schedule for free, I encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription for the most content. A paid subscription is your way of keeping this reader-supported newsletter going and supporting independent journalism. I am beholden to no network, promoter, manager, sanctioning body or fighter. If you have read my work at all during the past 23 years I’ve covered professional boxing you know that I keep it real and that will not change.

To upgrade your subscription please go here:

Thank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!

Canelo photo: Meg Oliphant/Matchroom Boxing

---

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danrafael1/

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanRafael1

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanRafaelBoxing