Canelo: I’m Gonna Take My Time Coming Back From Wrist Surgery; Maybe May, September

LAS VEGAS – Canelo Alvarez anticipates that surgery on his left wrist will keep him out of the ring until at least next May.

Alvarez announced after his 12-round unanimous decision victory over rival Gennadiy Golovkin on Saturday night that he will take his time as he recovers from the procedure on his wrist that has become increasingly necessary since beating Caleb Plant by TKO in the eleventh round. on November 6 last. The Mexican icon will need six to 12 weeks to recover once the cartilage damage in his wrist is repaired, but the four-division champion plans to pace him during and after the rehab process.

“I’ll take my time,” Alvarez said during a post-fight news conference early Sunday morning at T-Mobile Arena. “My body needs [rest]. You know, last year I fought four times in 11 months. So for that. But I need to take a little time. Maybe May, September, I don’t know. But take my time.

Alvarez acknowledged that his left wrist hurt “really badly” during his third 12-round fight against Golovkin. The throbbing pain in his wrist has become bothersome enough that Alvarez has determined he can’t take another training camp without fixing it.

“I’ve had these issues since the Caleb Plant fight,” Alvarez said. “So, [I said], ‘Oh, it’s fine. It’s okay. leave it [go]. leave it [go].’ And then the training started, and it’s a problem, problem, problem. And I need surgery.

Alvarez, 32, basically boxed a maximum of twice per calendar year for eight years before fighting four times between December 2020 and last November 6. One month period in which he defeated undefeated 168-pound champions Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Plant.

Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) defended all four of his 168-pound championships for the first time against Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs), who made his debut at the super middleweight limit on his DAZN Pay- Main event by view. In his previous appearance, Alvarez returned to the light heavyweight division for a 12-round, 175-pound title fight that he decisively lost to undefeated WBA champion Dmitry Bivol on May 7 at T -Mobile Arena.

Alvarez reiterated after defeating Golovkin again on Saturday night that he wants a rematch with Bivol. Russia’s Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) must first defeat mandatory challenger Gilberto Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) in their 12-round championship match on November 5 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.