Canelo Alvarez hopes to return to competition in September and reclaim his world titles, and if he can do that, he’ll have another 168-pound titleholder waiting in the wings for a unification showdown.

When Alvarez lost the undisputed crown to Terence Crawford, the belts soon became fragmented following the American’s retirement. Since then, Jaime Munguia dethroned Armando Resendiz for the WBA belt, Osleys Iglesias stopped Pavel Silyagin for the IBF crown, and Christian Mbilli, whom Canelo will fight next, has been elevated to full champion.

On Saturday, Canelo’s last titles to date were won by, among others: Hamzah Sheeraz easily defeated Alem Begić to claim the vacant WBO super middleweight world title.

I’m talking to iFL TelevisionSheeraz promoter Frank Warren praised the efforts of both his fighter and his team at Queensberry Promotions.

“A lot of work has gone into it [Sheeraz] and I must tell you that we worked very strenuous to prepare for this world title match, very strenuous. There was a lot of lobbying and this was the best option you could get to win the world title – that’s what I call great matchmaking and properly managing someone’s career.

“I congratulate him, he did great and we will see what the next large fight will be.”

Warren then admitted Canelo would be the preferred next option for the Slough-born champion if he can defeat Mbilli in less than four months.

“I would think so [Canelo is next on Sheeraz’s radar]but Canelo has to win. We’ll see what Canelo has left in the tank. This will be compelling.”

Sheeraz has also been linked with joining Canelo-Mbilli, where he could accept another unification fight against Canelo’s stablemate and current WBA champion Munguia.

Adam Azim is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters on these shores, and his speed is a thing of beauty as he ruthlessly dispatches weaker opponents.

At 24 years vintage, he certainly has the physical attributes and attitude to reach the top of his sport, especially with renowned coach Shane McGuigan in his corner.

Most importantly, Azim is well aware that talent can only take a fighter so far.

What is more vital is the level of commitment to one’s craft, or in other words, how a person chooses to exercise outside of the gym.

It was an unfortunate series of events when a super lightweight opponent made his last scheduled appearance Gustavo Lemos withdrew due to injury.

Then on the same day, January 31, Azim was scheduled to face Nahir Albright, but a hand injury ruled him out.

But to prevent future injuries, the undefeated fighter has placed even greater emphasis on a self-care routine that he tells Boxing News and other media outlets has been somewhat neglected leading up to his last fight.

“I am very sure of one thing [particular] it’s about my health. Boxers get injured left and right before a fight, but that’s what they do outside the camp [that makes a difference].

“They can go out and eat so much shit and do something stupid. [But]in my case, I like to get my body in order before going to camp. I subject my body to many manipulations – ice baths, cryotherapy, heat and frosty therapy – and I work on myself even after the fight.

Giving the impression of a consummate professional, Azim admits he may have had a few too many treats before his round 12 finish with Kurt Scoby last November.

As a result, he decided to live more like a monk than, say, a typical 24-year-old.

“Before this fight with Kurt Scoby, I was very weighty and the reason for that was because I ate a lot of desserts. But then I thought about all the top-level fighters who do a lot of recovery and keep their weight down. I have to do it [as well]”

Believing he has cracked the code to success at the highest level, Azim must stay in the win column when he faces Steve Claggett at London’s Wembley Arena this Saturday, headlining his first Boxxer event on the BBC.

After that, the world title vacancy could be well within the reach of “The Assassin,” who boasts a reasonable No. 7 in the IBF rankings at 140 pounds.

Ahead of him, of course, is top contender Lindolfo Delgado, whom Azim says he “really wants” to fight for Richardson Hitchins’ vintage belt.

But until then, Azim must focus on his professional development, following the same path his father always hoped he would follow.

“My dad has been with me since I was four years vintage and will be with me until I retire. That’s the example of a father. He went through hard times growing up.

“He lost two brothers – one died of cancer and the other was murdered in Slough. He always kept me on track.

“He told me, ‘Don’t be like your uncle.’ [who died at 25]. Go your way the way I want you to go.’ Even before my dad’s other brother died of cancer at the age of 40, he told my dad that I would make our name notable.”

Azim can certainly become a household name, which will make his family even more proud, but first he must decisively deal with Teofimo Lopez’s former opponent, Claggett.

Ryan Garcia publicly warned Adrien Broner about alcoholism before Gervonta Davis later appeared on the former four-division world champion’s viral stream and he was immediately embarrassed by the whole situation.

Broner gained massive popularity earlier in the day after appearing alongside Deen The Great in a clip that sparked a wave of jokes about his height from 2024.

During the exchange, Deen joked that Broner’s eminent “Problem” stomach tattoo “went from one word to an entire sentence” because of the amount of weight it had taken on.

The clip quickly spread online as fans mocked Broner’s appearance with “pregnancy” jokes, while others expressed concern over how far removed the champion was from boxing now.

Ryan Garcia Warning

Garcia then stepped in with a much more solemn response under the viral footage.

“Stop drinking bro please,” Garcia wrote.

“Alcoholism is a sneaky, hushed disease. You can’t keep drinking like this. You need people around you who care about you. No, yes, men.”

The comment quickly went viral because Garcia wasn’t a fan of jokes. He looked really worried.

Garcia’s warning carried added weight given his own public battles over the past two years.

Unlike the casual social media criticism directed at Broner, Garcia sounded more like someone recognizing behavior he’s seen up close in combat sports and celebrity culture.

The tank is rising

A few hours later, the situation became even more surreal when Gervonta Davis made an unexpected stop on Broner’s creek.

Tank immediately asked why Broner hadn’t even prepared food for the guests, even though there was constant streaming around the house.

Davis also seemed noticeably wary of being filmed at times, seemingly much more aware than anyone else of how quickly broadcast moments spread on social media.

The awkward atmosphere only added to the growing sense that Broner’s novel streaming lifestyle is far from anything resembling a comeback.

This is despite Broner stating earlier in the day that he “talked to Al Haymon” and was planning his next move in the ring.

Adrien Broner broadcast

As previously reported by WBN, Broner recently admitted that he still has difficulty getting into a boxing gym following the death of longtime trainer Mike Stafford in 2023.

“I know everyone wants to see me in the gym, but it’s like… having the motivation to come back after my trainer died. It’s really challenging for me to even get into the boxing gym,” Broner explained earlier this month.

Since teaming up with Deen, The Great Broner has gained a novel audience online and has reportedly made tens of thousands of dollars from streaming content.

However, alcohol remained added to almost every notable viral clip, meaning Garcia’s message received a different from the standard criticism.

Broner continues to be one of the most naturally entertaining personalities in sports, and viewers clearly still care about him. But the further the streams drift towards non-stop drinking, nightlife, mayhem and viral moments, the harder it becomes to imagine a solemn return to the ring.

Right now, Broner looks somewhere between an internet entertainer, a former world champion, and someone who is still trying to overcome problems that boxing alone can no longer solve.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.