Former two-time world champion Shawn Porter suspects that Canelo Alvarez’s next opponent in the boxing ring has already been handpicked by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, with the Mexican superstar potentially heading toward a collision course against an undefeated challenger.
The speculation surrounding the future of the Mexican boxing icon comes in the wake of a triumphant weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 36-year-old veteran successfully reclaimed his WBC super-middleweight strap last Saturday, delivering a convincing and calculated unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli. The high-stakes clash marked a significant bounce-back performance for Alvarez, who was eager to re-establish his dominance in the super-middleweight division after enduring a turbulent period in his storied career.
Prior to his triumphant night against Mbilli, Alvarez had suffered a career-defining setback when he lost his undisputed super-middleweight crown to Terence Crawford. In that unforgettable
encounter in September 2025, Crawford made the bold leap upward by moving through two weight divisions and produced a truly masterful, tactical masterclass to strip Alvarez of his four major belts. The defeat sent shockwaves through the combat sports world, raising legitimate questions about the twilight of Alvarez’s prime and how he would respond to the first major blemish of that magnitude in years.
However, any lingering doubts were temporarily quieted last Saturday. This time out, Alvarez seemed largely in control against Mbilli, a formidable contender widely known for his relentless aggression and high-volume punching power. Despite his aggressive reputation, Mbilli was unable to consistently apply his trademark suffocating pressure during what was his first career world title defence. Alvarez’s veteran savvy, defensive mastery, and sharp counter-punching neutralized the challenger’s advances, allowing the Guadalajara native to cruise to a clean decision on the judges’ scorecards.
This victory marked a successful third outing for Alvarez under his lucrative four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season. His journey within this ambitious promotional framework began when he comfortably outpointed William Scull, which was followed immediately by his stunning defeat at the hands of Crawford. With three fights of the agreement now in the books, the boxing community has naturally turned its attention to how Alvarez will fulfill the final chapter of the four-fight pact.
Industry insiders widely expect Alvarez to enter at least one more high-profile bout orchestrated by Alalshikh. While numerous high-caliber names could theoretically fit the bill, Porter believes that the architect of Riyadh Season has already narrowed his focus down to one specific, highly intriguing candidate: former world champion Hamzah Sheeraz.
The 27-year-old rising star has captured the attention of the boxing world, though his recent career path has taken some unexpected turns. Sheeraz famously vacated his WBO title in September, a decision that came shortly after his promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, successfully won a purse bid for a mandated world title defence against Janibek Alimkhanuly. Rather than moving forward with that specific matchup, Sheeraz and his team opted to relinquish the belt, choosing to navigate a different strategic route in his professional career.
Despite currently operating without a major world title strapped around his waist, Sheeraz remains one of the sport’s most dangerous and highly regarded talents. Furthermore, his close ties to the Riyadh Season initiative as a recognized ambassador place him in a unique position within the modern boxing ecosystem. According to Porter, who analyzed the promotional landscape on his popular podcast, these factors combine to make Sheeraz not just a theoretical opponent, but a profoundly realistic and commercially viable option for Alvarez in 2027.
Porter did not mince words when discussing the inner workings of elite boxing matchmaking and the influential role played by Saudi boxing patrons, strongly suggesting that the bout is practically being engineered behind the scenes. Sharing his perspective on the potential matchup, Porter expressed absolute confidence in the direction of the upcoming negotiations.
Alalshikh is not going to allow Alvarez to get past Hamzah Sheeraz, Porter stated on his podcast, emphasizing that the influential promoter will likely block any alternative matchups from taking shape for the Mexican star’s next appearance under the Riyadh Season banner. According to the former world champion, the strategic alignment between the promotional goals in the Middle East and the available elite talent pool makes this particular domestic or cross-promotional clash an almost irresistible prospect for decision-makers.
While a blockbuster showdown against Alvarez could potentially materialize for next year, Sheeraz still has immediate business to attend to before officially stepping into the global free-agent market. The undefeated contender is currently expected to fulfill at least one more professional assignment under the banner of Queensberry Promotions. This impending bout will serve as a crucial stepping stone before he transitions fully into the next phase of his career and pursues broader opportunities as an independent entity in the sport.
As the dust settles on Alvarez’s latest successful title defence in Saudi Arabia, the boxing world will undoubtedly watch closely to see how the final piece of the Riyadh Season agreement falls into place. With elite fighters, powerful promoters, and influential financial backers constantly negotiating behind the scenes, the stage is set for another major chapter in Alvarez’s legendary career, with Sheeraz standing front and center as the most talked-about prospective adversary on the horizon.
