“Canelo is a true competitor. It was great to see him last week. He’s excited. He’s excited to fight again,” Hearn said to Fight Hub TV. “And it’s a tough fight. It’s a tough fight to come back to. And by the way, if you are finished, you get beat in that fight.”

The comments stood out because much of the early reaction to the September 12 bout focused on whether Canelo should have pursued a bigger-name opponent.

The discussion also comes at a time when Canelo admitted frustration over missed Terence Crawford rematch, adding another layer to the scrutiny surrounding his late‑career decisions. Instead, Hearn believes Mbilli represents a legitimate threat, especially for a fighter entering the later stages of his career.

Mbilli continues earning respect before Canelo fight

Mbilli enters the fight unbeaten and widely recognized as one of the most aggressive pressure fighters in the super middleweight division. The Canadian-based contender has repeatedly argued that he presents a more dangerous challenge than several opponents Canelo has faced in recent years.

Hearn appeared to support that view while discussing the upcoming matchup, emphasizing that Mbilli’s style could create serious problems if Canelo is no longer performing at his peak level. “It’s a really good fight, and I’m looking forward to seeing Canelo back in the ring,” Hearn added.

Canelo remains motivated despite growing scrutiny

Canelo has dismissed suggestions that he is searching for easier fights following years of championship bouts across multiple weight divisions. The Mexican star recently described Mbilli as a champion-level opponent capable of delivering an entertaining fight for boxing fans.

If Canelo still has plenty left in the tank, he should handle the challenge. But if age and wear have finally started catching up to him, Mbilli may be the type of fighter capable of making that impossible to hide.

“Right now, they are in negotiations,” Floyd Schofield Sr. said in an interview with FightHype, explaining that both sides have remained in contact as they work through the final details. “We are waiting on the contract, that is all we waiting on.”

Davis has not recorded a victory since June 2024 after fighting to a draw against Lamont Roach Jr. last year and remaining inactive for more than 14 months due to legal issues outside the sport. Despite the long layoff, Davis still owns an impressive professional record of 30-0-1 with 28 knockouts.

Schofield emerges as frontrunner for Gervonta Davis return

Recent reports initially linked Davis to a rematch against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz at super lightweight, but the WBA later ordered Davis to face mandatory challenger Schofield to maintain his lightweight championship status.

According to Schofield Sr., discussions between both camps had already started before the WBA officially stepped in. “Tank didn’t say that he didn’t want this fight,” Schofield Sr. added. “They are seeing if they can meet his demands, for how much he is going to possibly ask for, and we are going to go from there.”

The expected matchup would give the 23-year-old Schofield the biggest opportunity of his career as he attempts to hand Davis the first loss of his professional career.

Davis looking to reclaim momentum after long layoff

Davis’ inactivity led the WBA to move him to champion in recess status earlier this year, creating uncertainty about whether he would continue competing at 135 pounds.

A successful return against Schofield would immediately place Davis back into the lightweight title picture and help reestablish momentum after one of the most inactive stretches of his career.

“That’s sad, because I think the people deserve the rematch,” Canelo said while speaking to reporters, according to Ring Magazine. “But things happen and I am going to look forward to my career.”

Crawford retired in December after defeating Canelo by unanimous decision while moving up two weight classes to capture the undisputed super middleweight championship.

The loss marked one of the toughest moments of Canelo’s career, though the Mexican star admitted the fight taught him valuable lessons heading into the next stage of his career, while Crawford recently said he believes Canelo still has something to prove.

Canelo shifts focus to Mbilli fight

With the Crawford chapter likely closed, Canelo is now fully focused on his upcoming September 12 clash against undefeated WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Saudi Arabia. “I learned a lot,” Canelo said. “I learned my lesson, and this time I took the time to take care of my body, my injuries, and all my stuff.”

Canelo underwent left elbow surgery following the Crawford fight and spent several months recovering before returning to full training. The 35-year-old believes his body is now in a much better place as he prepares for another major test against one of boxing’s fastest-rising contenders.

Canelo says motivation remains strong despite legendary career

Even after accomplishing nearly everything possible in boxing, Canelo insisted his passion for the sport remains unchanged. “I’m disciplined, and that’s the most important,” Canelo said. “I love boxing. I love my sport and every time I step in the ring I break records.”

Canelo also addressed ongoing speculation surrounding a possible future fight against David Benavidez, though he made it clear that his focus remains entirely on Mbilli for now.

As one of boxing’s biggest global stars, Canelo understands the attention surrounding every possible matchup. However, despite missing out on a second fight with Crawford, he appears determined to continue building his legacy with another championship opportunity later this year.

During the press conference in Cairo, Canelo made it clear he does not believe Mbilli can compete with him, regardless of age or timing. “He’s a good fighter but in my mind it’s 0% chance,” Canelo said. “He says it’s the perfect time because I’m old. I say to him, if I was 50 years old you still cannot beat me.”

Mbilli, however, embraced the challenge and promised fans they would see a different outcome in September. The WBC super middleweight champion insisted he brings far more to the ring than some of Canelo’s previous opponents, as he previously questioned whether Canelo can still handle elite pressure.

Mbilli confident ahead of biggest fight

Mbilli showed plenty of confidence during the faceoff and made it clear he is not entering the fight simply looking for respect. “You’re going to be surprised in September,” Mbilli said.

He also added, “I’m not Berlanga. I’m not Munguia.” The unbeaten champion also called the matchup the perfect opportunity to prove himself on boxing’s biggest stage.

Canelo returning after Terence Crawford loss

The September fight will mark Canelo’s first bout since losing his undisputed super middleweight titles to Terence Crawford last year. After Crawford retired, the division titles became split, with Mbilli eventually claiming the WBC belt.

Now, the Mexican superstar returns looking to reestablish himself at the top of the division while Mbilli attempts to secure the biggest win of his career.

Speaking during DAZN’s coverage ahead of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, Crawford explained why he thinks Canelo decided against retirement. “Canelo won’t want to end his career on a loss like he did with me,” Crawford said. “I can see Canelo wanting to come back and prove himself.”

The September matchup will mark Canelo’s first fight since the loss to Crawford and could determine how much he still has left at the elite level of boxing. Many fans and analysts remain curious to see how the Mexican star responds after the defeat, especially after Jake Paul recently claimed sending a $200M offer to Canelo.

Crawford reacts to Canelo’s upcoming fight with Mbilli

Crawford also discussed the challenge awaiting Canelo against Mbilli, who has become one of the most dangerous fighters in the super middleweight division because of his pressure and activity inside the ring.

“Mbilli puts on a lot of pressure,” Crawford explained. “Canelo is an all-time great, and I’m excited to see how he bounces back.” The undefeated Mbilli enters the fight with growing momentum and will have a major opportunity to elevate his career against one of boxing’s biggest names.

Canelo prepares for another chapter in his career

Even after years at the top of boxing, Canelo appears determined to continue competing at the highest level. His return also keeps his Riyadh Season partnership active after reportedly signing a multi-fight agreement in 2025.

For Crawford, however, the decision is more about legacy and competitiveness than business. He believes Canelo still wants to prove he can return to championship form before eventually walking away from the sport.

Speaking on DAZN’s Inside The Ring, Iglesias suggested the matchup would be difficult to make and hinted that the Mexican star may avoid the risk. “It’s complicated with Canelo,” Iglesias said. “Canelo would not want to fight me. I would hope that he would give me the fight and allow me to demonstrate that Cuban fighters, and more specifically that Osleys Iglesias, is a different breed.”

Iglesias enters the conversation as one of boxing’s most dangerous emerging champions. He recently captured the IBF super middleweight title with an eighth-round stoppage win over Pavel Silyagin, improving his undefeated record to 15-0 with 14 knockouts.

Iglesias believes his pressure style is a major problem

Iglesias believes his combination of size, pressure, and punching power creates a difficult challenge for any fighter in the division. His recent run of knockout victories has fueled growing talk about potential unification bouts at super middleweight.

A possible future matchup could depend on the outcome of Canelo’s scheduled fight against Christian Mbilli on Sept. 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mbilli, who now holds the WBC title, will look to test Canelo in a high-profile clash that could reshape the division.

Iglesias also weighed in on that fight, pointing to the stylistic contrast between both men. “It’s an interesting fight,” he said. “Mbilli is more combative, and Canelo is more selective, looking for his opponent to make mistakes.”

Canelo remains the biggest target at super middleweight

Even after his loss to Terence Crawford last September, Canelo remains the central figure in the super middleweight division and one of boxing’s biggest global stars. Any champion at 168 pounds continues to view him as the ultimate test.

For Iglesias, however, the focus is on proving he belongs at the elite level while continuing to build momentum as a feared knockout artist. Whether Canelo ever agrees to the fight remains uncertain, but the Cuban champion has already made his stance clear.

“Canelo is very old right now. Canelo is not the same Canelo like 10 year before, five year before,” Mbilli told The Ring. “He’s still dangerous. He’s still a good fighter. I think he’s top three, top two of the division.”

Canelo recently received a $200M offer from Jake Paul, but despite remaining one of boxing’s biggest names for more than a decade, Mbilli believes the veteran champion may no longer be at his physical peak after turning professional at just 15 years old.

Mbilli believes his style could trouble Canelo

Mbilli pointed directly to his aggressive style as one reason he feels confident about a possible fight against Canelo. The unbeaten contender believes his pace, pressure, and punch volume could create difficult moments for the former undisputed champion.

“I don’t know if right now he can take my pressure and my punch because I throw a lot of punch, a lot of pressure,” Mbilli said. “I think I can win. Right now it’s time to take Canelo because he’s getting old.”

Mbilli still calls fighting Canelo a “privilege”

Despite his confidence, Mbilli also made it clear he still respects everything Canelo has accomplished during his career. “It will be a privilege to fight Canelo,” Mbilli said. “To have a big name like Canelo, I will be very happy.”

A fight between the two would likely become one of the biggest events in the division, especially as questions continue growing about Canelo’s future and how much longer he plans to compete at the highest level.

“Canelo, I have the $200 million for you, easy money. Jake vs Canelo, let’s get it done,” Paul said during a recent livestream. “This is the biggest fight in boxing.” He also suggested the Mexican star is open to the idea after previous discussions.

The comments have sparked debate because Paul is still rebuilding his boxing career after a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua earlier this year. Many also question whether a sanctioning body would approve such a fight due to the large gap in experience between the two fighters.

WBC president reacts to growing fight rumors

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman responded to the speculation, saying the organization has not received any official request for sanctioning. Still, he acknowledged Paul’s recent step-up in competition has changed how some view him.

“We have not received a request for sanctioning,” Sulaiman said via SPORTbible. “Jake Paul proved himself by fighting Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua.” He added that Paul has earned some respect by facing tougher opponents, but did not confirm whether a Canelo fight would be approved.

Canelo remains the major target

A fight with Canelo would be the biggest test of Paul’s career. He is a four-division world champion and one of boxing’s top names, with a long record of elite wins and championship success.

Paul, meanwhile, continues to try to establish himself at the highest level after recent setbacks, including a serious injury and recovery period following his loss to Joshua.

Despite that, his name still draws major attention for potential crossover fights. For now, the matchup remains only speculation, but the WBC president’s response has kept the conversation alive.

According to boxing insider Mike Coppinger, Usyk’s team has little interest in revisiting the rivalry after the Ukrainian star already defeated Dubois twice in previous meetings. “I spoke to Usyk’s advisor, Sergey Lapin. You don’t have to worry about a Dubois fight. There’s not any interest there – for good reason,” Coppinger said during an appearance on Inside The Ring.

The comments come as Usyk prepares to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Dutch kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.

Usyk focused on new challenges instead of trilogy bout

Usyk has already built one of the most accomplished résumés in modern boxing, becoming a multi-time undisputed champion while defeating elite names such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Dubois multiple times.

Because of that success, reports suggest the 39-year-old is more interested in pursuing fresh challenges rather than revisiting opponents he has already beaten convincingly.

If Usyk successfully defends his titles against Verhoeven as expected, he could next be ordered to face WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel later this year.

Dubois still remains major heavyweight contender

Although Usyk reportedly has no interest in another fight, Dubois remains firmly in the heavyweight title picture after continuing his recent rise. The British fighter recently captured attention by stopping Fabio Wardley in the 11th round to become a two-time world champion, strengthening his standing among the division’s top contenders.

Still, with Usyk’s camp seemingly focused elsewhere, a trilogy fight currently appears unlikely despite the commercial interest such a matchup could generate within the heavyweight division.

During a recent livestream, Paul claimed he has already discussed the potential matchup directly with Canelo and insisted the financial terms are ready to move forward. “Canelo wants 200 million. I have the 200 million dollars for you, easy money. Jake Paul vs Canelo, let’s get it done. This is what the fans have been waiting for. This is the biggest fight that can possibly be made in boxing,” Paul said.

The comments arrive after former UFC veteran Matt Brown questioned Paul’s career‑threatening injury claim, as Canelo prepares for his return to the ring after nearly a year away from competition following elbow surgery and his upset loss to Terence Crawford in their undisputed super‑middleweight title fight last September.

Paul continues pushing for blockbuster Canelo fight

Paul also stated during the stream that Canelo had shown interest in the fight during private conversations, increasing speculation surrounding a possible crossover mega-event.

“Canelo says he’s down on the phone, so we’re going to make it happen. I have the 200 million and I think that’s going to be the next fight. Sign the contract Canelo. Much respect to you, let’s make the biggest fight in boxing happen,” Paul added.

The potential matchup would likely become one of the most commercially successful events in combat sports given both fighters’ massive global audiences and social media influence.

Canelo remains focused on return against Mbilli

Despite Paul’s public push for the fight, Canelo is currently preparing for his scheduled return against WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this September.

Canelo has not competed since suffering the surprising loss to Crawford and subsequently undergoing elbow surgery during his recovery period. Meanwhile, Paul’s own future in boxing recently appeared uncertain after his stoppage loss to Anthony Joshua in December.

Jake Paul star previously suggested he might not return to the ring, though his latest comments indicate he remains interested in pursuing another high-profile showdown.

“Never fight again bc of broken jaw? How does that work? Jaws heal well. I’ve had mine broken twice and didn’t even get it wired,” Brown wrote on social media while responding to Paul’s comments.

Paul recently revealed that doctors have advised caution about a potential return to fighting, suggesting that the injury could possibly end his boxing career. Brown, however, strongly disagreed with that assessment based on his own experience in combat sports.

The injury occurred during the sixth round of Paul’s loss to Joshua, when the British heavyweight landed a decisive right hand that dropped Paul for the first knockout defeat of his professional career.

Brown rejects concerns over Paul’s broken jaw

Brown questioned the seriousness of Paul’s concerns, explaining that broken jaws are relatively common injuries in combat sports and are typically recoverable for professional fighters.

The longtime UFC welterweight competed for nearly two decades and built a reputation as one of the sport’s most aggressive knockout artists. Brown finished his MMA career with 13 UFC knockouts, one of the highest totals in promotional history.

Paul still awaiting full medical clearance

Despite Brown’s criticism, Paul stated during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show that he still has not been medically cleared to spar or absorb contact nearly five months after the loss.

According to Paul, his doctor remains concerned about the way the jaw healed and has advised against returning to the ring until the recovery process is fully complete.

The situation has created uncertainty surrounding Paul’s boxing future following what was expected to be the biggest test of his career against Joshua. While questions remain about whether the injury could truly end his fighting career, the debate has already sparked strong reactions throughout the combat sports world.