Canelo Alvarez says he has seven years left in boxing, wants Caleb Plant next

PLANO, TX – Canelo Alvarez says he has seven years left in boxing and wants to unify the super-middleweight division with wins over Billy Joe Saunders and Caleb Plant by the end of the year.

Canelo fights Saunders at AT&T Stadium in Dallas this weekend, hoping to add the Englishman’s WBO super middleweight world title to the WBA (Super), WBC and The Ring titles he already owns.

The Mexican superstar has campaigned everywhere from middleweight to light heavyweight since 2018, including wins over Rocky Fielding, Callum Smith and Avni Yildirim at 168-pounds.

A win over Saunders this weekend would leave Plant’s IBF title as only one left to claim at super middleweight as Canelo plots his path towards unification.

“We have always been open about what our short and long term plans have been,” Canelo said via an interpreter at this week’s media day.

“I want to unify the 168lb division, and Caleb Plant would be next in line to secure that short term goal if successful against Billy Joe Saunders.”

Plant has defended the IBF title three times, most recently in a one-sided unanimous decision win over Caleb Truax in

Having made his professional boxing debut in 2005 at just 15, Canelo already has 58 bouts to his name, including 55 wins, one loss to Floyd Mayweather and two draws.

This weekend’s fight will be his third in five months as he wants to stay active after a COVID-interrupted 2020.

The 30-year-old says he still has seven good years in the sport, and doesn’t see any reason to retire any time soon.

“The goal is to be undisputed at 168lbs and then we’ll see,” he said.

“I think I could stay at super middleweight until the end of my career.

“I think I have about seven years left until I retire, but I’m listening to my body and when it tells me to quit, I’ll quit.”

Saunders, who most recently scored a unanimous decision win over Martin Murray in December, kicked up a fuss over the size of the ring to be used in Dallas this weekend.

The 31-year-old, who spent his training camp alongside Tyson Fury in Las Vegas, demanded a 24-foot ring, but the one on site measured 22 feet.

He threatened to walk away from the multi-million dollar bout altogether – and was a no-show at a scheduled face-off – before the issue was resolved.

Hardly one to be put-off by pre-fight antics, Canelo didn’t pay much notice.

“Nothing frustrates me, I am just focused on winning on Saturday,” he said.

“He has to fight me on Saturday, that has to happen, it’s not a problem.

“I don’t care about anything. I am just going to go in there and do my job.

“Saunders has come up with other excuses, he’s had plenty of excuses, but I am just going to go in there and do what I have to do.”