The year started with WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia’s win over Luke Campbell on 2nd January, then came women boxing stalwart Claressa Shields and her thrashing of Marie-Eve Dicaire in March.

The number one pound for pound boxer in the world Canelo Alvarez registered two back to back victories this year already, first against mandatory challenger Avni Yıldırım in February and then against former WBO titlist Billy Joe Saunders in May.

And last but not the least, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will break his year long hiatus in his trilogy against former foe Deontay Wilder on 24th July.

This year is setting up to be an eventful one in boxing’s calendar, but there are a number of fights that are yet to be confirmed or even some case, reach legitimate talks but are certainly some of the most anticipated matches in the sport.

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Below here are the top three boxing fights that the fans are eagerly awaiting to see in 2021:

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

One of the biggest fights in the history of boxing, Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua, had almost reached confirmation but after Deontay Wilder activated his dispute resolution for his trilogy against Fury, this highly anticipated match went back into indefinite status.

Nonetheless, the four belt title bout, which will see Fury’s WBC belt stacked up against AJ’s WBA, IBF, WBO titles, will determine the undisputed ruler of the heavyweight division and is undoubtedly on top of the boxing fans’ desired fights.

Canelo Alvarez vs Caleb Plant

Even before Canelo registered his wins over Yıldırım and Saunders, IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant has been “raising a hand” to take on the Mexican boxing maestro. The P4P king, who currently has the WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO titles around his waist, has been destined to become undisputed at 168, without question.

The undefeated American, who is coming off of three straight title defenses, is expected to square off against Canelo sometime in September this year. While this fight surely earns “Sweethands” an opportunity of a lifetime- to become undisputed at 168, it will also be the toughest fight of his career, because its against Canelo.

Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford

The welterweight division of boxing is already going to see some huge action this year- with the WBC and IBF titleholder Errol Spence Jr returning against the legendary Manny Pacquiao on 21st August in Las Vegas.

While its already one mouth-watering contest, the supporters are on the edges of their seats to see Spence stepping inside the squared circle against Terence “Bud” Crawford, the WBO welterweight champion. The fight will unify the three belts at 147, before the undisputed championship can be determined, and its unsurprising to see the fight high on the fans’ desired list.

Currently the number one pound for pound boxer in the world, WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO titleholder Canelo Alvarez  (56-1-2, 38 KOs) is, to numerous boxing fans in the world, destined to create history in the super middlewight division.

Coming off of a dominating 8-round TKO win over Billy Joe Saunders on 8th May at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Canelo is slated to face IBF super middleweight Champion Caleb Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) later this year for the undisputed crown at 168.

Canelo is already a huge favourite over Plant for the fight and recently, the pugilist himself stated that even after achieving undisputed status, he wishes to remain at 168 afterwards to rule the division.

In the meantime, Eddie Hearn feels that not only super middleweight, but no other boxer in the light heavyweight division also stands to chance against Canelo either.

ALSO READ: Caleb Plant claims to have seen Canelo’s “weak spots” during Saunders fight

Hearn declares Canelo the best in both super middleweight and light heavyweight

Speaking to Fighthub in a recent interview about the upcoming Plant fight, Hearn shed some praise on “Sweethands”, who is undoubtedly setting himself up for the biggest fight of his career yet.

“That fight should be happening. Caleb Plant is a great champion. He’s going to get a great payday,” said Hearn said in the interview, “he’s also going to get a chance to great a great legacy for himself. So I guess he wants the fight.”

Going about the clash, the British promoter made it crystal clear about what he feels about Canelo- the latest and greatest at both super middleweight and light heavyweight.

“I think Canelo is unbeatable. I don’t see anyone at 168 beating him,” the 41-year-old went on, “He may not get beat at 175 like you know, cruiserweight, I don’t know. In his head, he is completely unbeatable.”

Before his return to 168 against Callum Smith last year, the current unified champion had moved up to light heavyweight and clinched the WBO belt against Sergey Kovalev on 2nd November 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

If he wishes to return to 175 again, the 30-yer-old will have to square off against the elites of the division such as Artur Beterbiev, Dimitry Bivol, and Gilberto Ramirez.

Although the majority of the boxing community expected nothing less from the number one pound for pound boxer in the world, things have been rather dusky for Saunders, who failed to match the expectations of his fans at the AT&T Stadium on 8th May.

While the defeat marked his first career defeat, Saunders lost his WBO title which he had won back in May 2019 against Shefat Isufi. Not only that, the eye damage that ‘Superb’ sustained in the fight will make him take a prolonged hiatus from the sport to be fully recovered once again.

The jab from Canelo, which fractured Saunders’ eye socket, also caused him to lose his vision in the right eye, and soon after the fight, he had to be taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery.

Tibbs says Saunders has to “get through” the grief from the Canelo fight

While its estimated that Saunders will be out for months to be physically ring-ready, his trainer Mark Tibbs worries that the mental recovery can take much, much longer.

“It’s going to be a very, very tough time emotionally for Billy Joe,” Tibbs said in an interview with talkSPORT, “he comes from the community he comes from and they are a very proud people and it is just going to be very tough.” 

Saunders did not just sail on his own confidence ahead of the toughest match of his career, he even had the backing from none other than WBC heavyweight champion and his compatriot- Tyson Fury, who believed that his mate was going to pick up a win over Canelo via unanimous decision.

ALSO READ: Dillian Whyte brands Tyson Fury a ‘coward’ for not protecting Saunders’ father, Fury issues response

“It’s going to be tough for Billy Joe and he has a good family around him and good support with his friends. It’s like grieving; it’s something he has got to get through, he has got kids around him and that will help him get through and you have got to get on with things,” Tibbs added.

Canelo’s first verbal clash against Andrade took place following the Mexican’s 8-round TKO win over Billy Joe Saunders last Saturday, when he became the WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO super middleweight champion of the world.

After negating Andrade’s challenge for a fight in the postgame interview and even telling the WBO middleweight titleholder to “get the f*** out of here”. However, looking back in time, its not the first time that Canelo has thumbed down a faceoff against Andrade.

Back in October 2019, Canelo had addressed Andrade as a “very boring” fighter who “hasn’t fought against anybody”, something that he repeated last weekend right on Andrade’s face. Moreover in April last year, Canelo completely dismissed any notion of fighting “Boo Boo” in the future.

ALSO READ: Caleb Plant claims to have seen Canelo’s “weak spots” during Saunders fight

Andrade has always called Canelo to fight: Shields

Meanwhile, Canelo’s attitude and ignorance towards Andrade has rubbed up another legendary figure in the sport, Claressa Shields, who has taken a stance in support of her fellow American pugilist, and called out Canelo for calling Andrade “worthless”, as well as wording on how the three-belt champion at 168 once missed the chances of becoming undisputed at 160.

“Canelo Alvarez had a few belts at 160lb and could have been undisputed and could have fought for the undisputed belt.” Shields said in a recent interview, “for some strange reason he went to 168lb and then 175lb.”

The boxer-cum-mixed martial artist referred back to Canelo’s days in the middleweight division, where he became the WBC and WBA (Super) titleholders. He would later also move up to light heavyweight and win the WBO belt.

Moreover, the two-time Olympics gold medallist pointed out that Andrade himself represented the US in the Olympic Games, and called him a better opponent for Canelo, compared to Saunders.

“I can’t believe Canelo said that Andrade was a horrible fighter,” Shields went on, “Andrade is not a horrible fighter, he is an American USA olympian, and he has always called Alvarez to fight.”

Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) has registered three back to back wins within a span of six months, a streak which recently concluded in an 8th round dominating win over Billy Joe Saunders, the former WBO titleholder who retired from his stool with a broken eye socket last Saturday at the AT&T Stadium.

The number one pound for pound boxer in the world currently has the WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO belts in his possession, the first two which he won against former WBA champion Callum Smith in December last year, clinching the vacant green and gold belt in the same fight.

Just one win to go and the Mexican maestro will achieve undisputed status at 168, a feat which will also place him in the history books for becoming the first four belt champion in boxing out of his country.

And for that, Canelo will face Caleb Plant in a fight targeted for September this year. However, the undefeated American remains unfazed despite the boxing prowess Canelo has been showing recently.

I feel like I’m the better fighter: Caleb Plant is putting himself ahead of Canelo prior to undisputed championship

Calen Plant recently made an appearance on the latest episode of “The PBC Podcast,” which debuted Thursday on www.premierboxingchampions.com and while talking about the Canelo vs Saunders fight, Plant claimed that he has seen some weak points in Canelo.

“I seen things I feel like I can take advantage of and some mistakes, or just some weak spots that I feel I can capitalize on. And, you know, here soon, when we get that fight signed … I can show y’all in person,” “Swethands” revealed to the podcast co-hosts Kenneth Bouhairie and Michael Rosenthal.

Even before the Saunders fight had taken place, talks were already gaining pace about Canelo, who is favored by many to undoubtedly become the undisputed champion at 168. Back then, Plant had decided to take a short break from the sport to prepare for the fight he knows will be approaching later this year.

“I know Canelo,” the 28-year-old went on, “He’s a good fighter, but, you know, at the end of the day, like I said, I feel like I’m the better fighter. I feel like that I have more attributes. I know he has a lot of experience.

“But sometimes experience can be overrated. And I feel like I got the heart and the mind, the skills and just the full package to, you know, go in there and do what has to be done,” added Plant.

Time and again, Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KOs) is proving why he is indeed the number one pound for pound boxer in the world. Destined to become the undisputed champion at 168, Canelo has already had three back to back wins within a span of three months.

Formerly a unified middleweight champion, Canelo’s super-middleweight reign started from his UD win against Callum Smith in December last year, followed by an easy 3rd round TKO over Avni Yıldırım and his latest triumph- retiring Billy Joe Saunders with a broken eye socket last Saturday to bag his third belt.

Whatever makes Canelo happy: Jermall Charlo eyes catchweight bout against the 168 pound king

Talks are already ongoing to pit Canelo against IBF champion Caleb Plant in September and winning the bout will make him achieve the undisputed status.

However, Jermall Charlo  (31-0, 22 KOs) wants his taste of Canelo at the same time and wants to face him in September as well, and for that, he is ready to lose his middleweight belt and move to super middleweight, as his recent social media post read.

“F*** the money, f*** the fame, f*** the networks. I’ll lose my [WBC middleweight] title and go to 168 to make the fight happen now. Boxing needs this fight to happen,” the 30-year-old posted on his official Instagram a few days back.

While he himself prepares for his upcoming title defense against Juan Macias Montiel on 19th June in Houston, Jermall revealed that he is ready to take Canelo on in any catchweight bout or even for the 160-pound WBC Franchise championship, provided that the latter nods to the same.

“We can fight in the fall, I don’t think he has anything on his resume. Whatever makes Canelo happy,” Jermall said in a recent interview, “we could fight for the [WBC Franchise championship].“

We haven’t seen that in history before … Just get in the ring with Jermall Charlo and have the fans shut up. In September, I’ll be ready then. I’m fighting June 19th, I’ll be ready in September,” Jermall added.

While Jermall is ready to switch weight classes to have what he wishes for, the same can’t really be said for Canelo as he recently expressed his desire to remain at 168 all the way into 2022, even when he becomes undisputed.

In what became one of the most brutal stoppage finishes, Canelo’s staggering uppercut in the 8th round rendered Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) unable to continue as the former WBO titleholder retired from his stool with a horrific right eye injury.

As the post-fight talks progressed, it was rumoured that Saunders had suffered a broken eye socket from Canelo’s jab, and later, Eddie Hearn himself came to limelight to reveal that “Superb” sustained multiple fractures to his right orbital area.

Furthermore, trainer Mark Tibbs stated that Saunders’ right eye socket had caved in and the Briton was unable to see and he even had to undergo eye surgery following the fight in Arlington, Texas.

Tibbs took the decision to not let Saunders continue for the 9th round and retire from his stool, and in the process, the boxer lost his WBO belt which he had held since May 2019 as well as his unbeaten professional record.

ALSO READ: Get the f*** out of here: Canelo gets into heated exchange with Demetrius Andrade following Saunders fight

Canelo backs Saunders’ decision to retire: you can’t continue that way

While many would consider this a wise decision, unfortunately, Saunders has been subjected to severe reprimands from a chunk of the boxing fandom and has been tagged as a ‘quitter’ and ‘coward’ for not continuing until the end.

In the meantime, the man who’s in the limelight, Canelo himself has backed the decision, as the Mexican champ himself believes that no fight is worth more than the fighter’s own life and believes if Saunders went into the remaining three rounds, it could have been life-threatening.

In the press conference after the fight, Canelo revealed that at the end of the 8th round, Canelo himself informed his trainer Eddy Reynoso that Saunders would be unable to take the fight forward.

“It’s hard because I saw when he broke his cheekbone, I went back to the corner and I told Eddy that I didn’t think he can continue,” said Alvarez during the interview, “when you break your cheekbone, you can risk your life and you can’t continue that way.”

The current three-belt super middleweight champion thrashed Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday at the AT&T Stadium to unify the WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO titles and is just one win away from becoming undisputed at 168. Knowing it was going to be the hardest boxing match, Saunders suffered the first defeat of his professional career.

Meanwhile, there is another name that has come out of the Arlington venue on the same night of the fight, and that is Demetrius Andrade, the WBO middleweight champion who got into a heated exchange with Canelo following the fight.

Andrade throws challenge, Canelo is least bothered

Andrade already made his presence felt during the main event of the night. As Canelo and Saunders locked horns in the ring, the 33-year-old was caught in the camera among the crowds.

However, ‘Boo Boo’ was greeted with boos from the audience as he was seen wearing a T-shirt that read, “Canelo and Billy Joe are scared to fight Boo Boo Andrade”. And the histrionics were just getting started.

As Canelo appeared in front of the media after securing the 38th KO of his career, Andrade emerged among the reporters, interrupting the champion to take a shot at him claiming Canelo has been avoiding a fight, to hype up a possible future clash between the two.

However for Canelo, the challenge was far from interesting as he completely negated Andrade by saying “get the f*** out of here, you’ve fought nobody” as the latter was escorted by the security.

Despite Canelo laughingly waiving off Andrade, the undefeated boxer made it clear that he is completely focused on having a fight with the Mexican.

“The window for the elite fighters is closing, and everybody is beating everybody, so the best needs to fight the best,” Andrade spoke to The Ring, “that’s it. That’s what it’s going to take – the best actually stepping up and saying, ‘Yeah, let’s fight.'”

“I don’t want to fight anyone else. Nobody cares about anybody else but the names that we all know,” he added.

While Andrade’s aim is fixed on a fight, chances are very less that ‘Cinnamon’ will accept the challenge in the near future, as Canelo recently revealed that he wants to remain at 168 even after becoming the undisputed champion, for which he will have to defeat IBF titleholder Caleb Plant in a fight speculated for late 2021.

The better half of the global boxing fraternity, as well as the fanbase, have tipped the odds in favor of Canelo, but the WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has repeatedly backed his compatriot, the southpaw out of Hertfordshire as the one winning the fight.

While such a result will be one of the biggest upsets in the history of boxing, an equally surprising result was delivered by a younger and less experienced Fury himself back in November 2015 when he squared off against the former WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who was at the prime of his career and was undefeated for 11 years.

Walking into the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf as the underdog, Fury is well-weathered about defeating the favourite, as he did the same almost six years ago, defeating “Dr. Steelhammer” via unanimous decision.

Fury expects “boxing master class” from Saunders against Canelo

Cut back to May 2021 and the Gypsy King anticipates the same triumph for his fellow gypsy. Speaking to Todd Grisham of DAZN, Fury predicted that the fight will go the distance, with Saunders outscoring Canelo unanimously.

“You’re gonna see an [absolute] boxing master class from Billy Joe Saunders,” said Fury in the interview, “and he’s gonna win a unanimous decision over 12 rounds.”

Fury has recently been very vocal about his support towards Saunders, from calling out Eddie Hearn for favouring Canelo on social media to revealing that the two Brits together are “strategically planning the downfall” of the middleweights and the heavyweight division, an indication that he himself will dominate Anthony Joshua in their proposed unification fight.

“There’s a lot of gypsy magic in the air,” the 32-year-old went on, “Billy Joe’s on form. He’s looking in great shape, best I’ve ever seen him. There’s gonna be a real good fight on [Saturday] night. Cannot wait. So happy to be here in Texas, with all these great boxing fans. It’s gonna be a real good fight. Really looking forward to it.”

While Fury hopes the ‘gypsy magic’ from Saunders to negate all odds on Saturday, the number one pound for pound boxer in the world Canelo is a 7-1 favorite to thrash his British opponent. Nonetheless, Fury ended his talk with shedding some praise on himself.

“I don’t know about pound-for-pound, but I know I’m the best fighter that’s ever lived. Never mind pound-for-pound, the best looking, the best talker, the best dressed, best everything,” Fury signed off.

As of now, Canelo’s focus is on Saturday when he squares off against WBO titleholder and unbeaten British pugilist Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs)  at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, which will unify all three belts.

Canelo, who is the clear favorite to win the fight, will be just one fight away to unify all four major titles at 168 if he can also subsequently conquer IBF champion Caleb Plant later this year, which will be a milestone in his 16-year-long professional career as well as in the Mexican boxing history.

But what’s next for Canelo?

As “Cinnamon” himself ponders on his future, he believes he can continue to don the gloves for seven years minimum, or he can also part away from boxing if he feels like it.

However, becoming the undisputed champion at 168 has been a long-term plan for Canelo before any notion of retirement, and dominating Saunders this weekend comes as the short-term plan in that goal.

“We have always been open about what are short and long term plans have been, 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,” Canelo said via a translator at a recent media conference.

“The goal is to be undisputed at 168lbs and then we’ll see. I think I could stay at Super-Middleweight until the end of my career,” the 30-year-old went on, “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.”

The fight was on the verge of cancellation after Saunders and his team raised a concern about the ring size for the fight, but the Briton, who recently claimed that he will be giving Canelo some “boxing lessons” in the squared circle, revealed that the issue was sorted.

Nonetheless, nothing of it has shifted Canelo’s focus from a triumph this weekend, and is least bothered about any “excuses” his adversary puts up.

“Nothing frustrates me, I am just focused on winning on Saturday. He has to fight me on Saturday, that has to happen, it’s not a problem,” asserted Canelo, “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.”