Alvarez’s career-long confidant, coach and manager Eddy Reynoso told The Ring that the Mexican superstar will take on all comers in the 168-pound division once he returns to headline a “Mexico vs. The World” card as part of a Riyadh Season show on September 12.

“We're going to stay at super middleweight for now,” said Reynoso. “The division is heating up, and we can really stay busy there for the foreseeable future.”

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) is expected to face WBC champion Christian Mbilli once he returns from a break following left elbow surgery in October. The last time Alvarez fought, in September, he lost his titles to Terence Crawford in an upset unanimous decision.

“Mbilli is a really great fight, if it ends up happening,” said Reynoso. “We saw the great fight Mbilli had with Lester Martinez, and it would be a great challenge for Canelo. And if Crawford returns, let's make the rematch happen. As a trainer, I can see the modifications that we need to make for the Crawford rematch and for the results to go our way.”

The 36-year-old Alvarez, ranked No. 1 by The Ring at 168 pounds, can face a new host of contenders and titleholders as he enters the final chapter of his illustrious career.

Recently crowned IBF champion Osleys Iglesias and Hamzah Sheeraz, who faces Alem Begic for the vacant WBO title on May 23, would be attractive opponents. Armando Resendiz, the WBA champion, defends his title against Jaime Munguia on May 2 and will also be a viable opponent if he beats Alvarez’s Reynoso-trained teammate.

At 168 pounds, Alvarez has beaten Rocky Fielding, Callum Smith, Avni Yildirim, Billy Joe Saunders, Caleb Plant, Gennadiy Golovkin, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, Munguia, and Edgar Berlanga. The loss to Crawford was his only setback at the weight.

Alvarez also moved up to 175 pounds, once in 2019 to knock out Sergey Kovalev and again unsuccessfully in a unanimous decision defeat against Dmitry Bivol in 2022. By staying at 168 pounds, Alvarez is also ruling out a long-desired rematch against the Russian, who holds The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBO crowns.

Just don’t count on David Benavidez to suddenly emerge as an opponent after he pounded the table for a fight against Alvarez for several years before moving up to light heavyweight and now, on May 2, cruiserweight to challenge unified champion Gilberto Ramirez.

“That fight against Benavidez is done,” said Reynoso. “There was a time when that fight could have been made at 168, and it didn't happen, so it's done. Benavidez is now fighting at cruiserweight. There is a better chance for Benavidez to fight Oleksandr Usyk than there is to fight Canelo.”

As Alvarez was still recovering from his surgery, Benavidez jumped on his rival’s traditional fighting date around Cinco de Mayo weekend to further ingratiate himself with fans.

“It's not weird for me not to be leading Canelo for a Cinco de Mayo weekend fight,” said Reynoso. “This time it's Munguia against Resendiz in an all-Mexican fight on an all-Mexican card. It's going to be a tremendous fight, and we are prepared to win. This fight will be so good that it will steal the show. They have the ingredients to take the spotlight away from the main event.”

In the meantime, Alvarez has returned to training in Reynoso’s recently opened gym in San Diego as he prepares for his return in the fall.

“It's a dream come true to open and have my own gym,” said Reynoso. “We have a home for our fighters now. People think that after Canelo retires, it's going to be a wrap for me and my career, and that's going to be it. No, I am going to continue being in boxing for as long as I live and discovering and building the next generation of champions.”