Canelo Alvarez's return set for September world title fight in Saudi Arabia

Canelo Alvarez is returning to the ring in September.

(Hector Vivas via Getty Images)

Canelo Alvarez will look to become a two-time super middleweight champion when he returns to the ring in September.

Alvarez, Uncrowned’s No. 10 pound-for-pound boxer, has not fought since losing his undisputed 168-pound championship to Terence Crawford last September in their Netflix-streamed main event from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The Mexican superstar underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow in October, which required 12-15 weeks of recovery before a full return to training. Alvarez decided to forego his annual May fight and give himself more time to rest.

It was announced in January that when Alvarez would fight again, he would do so for a super middleweight world title because Crawford had retired after defeating Alvarez and vacated all of his belts. Now, more details about that return have emerged.

Alvarez is set to challenge Christian Mbilli for his WBC super middleweight crown in September in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout is expected to top a Mexico vs. the world card hosted by Turki Alalshikh.

Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger was first with news of the contest.

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) captured the WBC interim super middleweight belt with an opening-round TKO of Maciej Sulęcki last June. He retained the strap in a Fight of the Year contender against Lester Martinez that ended in a draw on the Alvarez vs. Crawford undercard, and Mbilli was upgraded to full champion after Crawford retired.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) will look to bounce back after the third defeat of his career. The former pound-for-pound No. 1 is a four-division champion and still widely considered the biggest star in the sport.