Canelo Maps His Exit: Three or Four Fights Left, Finale in Mexico

Canelo Alvarez has finally put a number on the end. The 36-year-old told ESPN he expects three or four more fights after his October 31 bout with Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, with the dream finale staged on home soil in Mexico. That's a concrete timeline from a man sitting on a 63-2-2 (39 KO) ledger and over two decades in the pro ranks.

The specific venue he has in mind is Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Canelo said attending World Cup matches there in June gave him the feeling, and that Televisa chairman Emilio Azcarraga reached out for a Zoom call to float the idea of a future fight at the stadium. He's not shy about picturing himself walking out in front of that crowd.

First, Mbilli

Before any farewell tour kicks off, there's business in Saudi Arabia. Mbilli was bumped from interim to full WBC super-middleweight champion after Terence Crawford retired, and he enters off a thrilling draw with Lester Martinez. Like Canelo, the Frenchman hasn't fought in over a year — which makes the layoff a wildcard for both men.

The context here matters. Canelo held the undisputed super-middleweight crown until Crawford out-pointed him over 12 rounds in September 2025. Crawford, now 42-0 (31 KO), walked away from the sport a few months later rather than chase more. Canelo chose the opposite route: stay in, try to win the WBC belt back, and go out on his terms.

The Two Roads Out

What the swansong looks like depends entirely on October 31. Beat Mbilli and Canelo can realistically aim at undisputed again, giving those final three or four outings real stakes. Lose, and the farewell tour risks becoming a lap of honor rather than a title chase.

Either way, the Hall of Fame plaque is already written. Four weight classes, two losses in a career that's spanned 20-plus years, and now a stated plan to finish it at home. Plenty of fighters talk about the exit. Canelo just named the deadline — and the building.