Canelo Alvarez planning to fight five times in 12 months as Mexican star targets Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant for undisputed legacy after Avni Yildirim mandatory

Canelo Alvarez has declared that he is planning to fight five times in the space of just 12 months.

Mexico's pound-for-pound king was unhappy with the disruption the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with promotional issues, had on his career last year, resulting in him competing just once.

3

After securing his free agency, Canelo won the WBA and WBC super-middleweight world titles by comfortably defeating Callum Smith on December 12.

Now, he has told that he wants four fights in 2021, meaning that he'd have competed five times from December to December.

Canelo's next bout is scheduled for February 27, a mandatory defence against Turkey's Avni Yildirim.

This is expected to be a straightforward task for him and, as such, his challenger after that is already lined up.

3

Terms have been agreed for Canelo to unify with WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders on May 8.

This would put the Mexican one step closer to his current goal - becoming the first fighter in history to hold all four belts as an undisputed champion in the super-middleweight division.

Following Saunders in May, Canelo has said he also hopes to stay active with events in September and December.

Caleb Plant would most likely be the main target for the first of these fights as he holds the IBF belt which, if he beats Saunders, would be the final piece in Canelo's undisputed puzzle.

3

Gennady Golovkin also remains in the picture and has repeatedly said that he wants to share the ring with the Mexican one last time.

GGG and Canelo drew when they first met in 2017, though many felt the Kazakh power puncher was very unfortunate not to get the decision.

As for their rematch in 2018, the contest was far closer and Canelo claimed victory by a narrow majority decision.

Golovkin turns 39 in April, while Canelo is now in his true prime at age 30.