Canelo Alvarez Fractured Thumb: Mexican Boxer Won't Fight Again This Year Due To Injury

On Saturday, Sept. 17, Canelo Alvarez trounced Liam Smith after knocking him out in the ninth-round during their junior-middleweight title bout. Alvarez pounced on the hapless Smith and nailed him to clinch the title in impressive fashion. Sadly, the 26-year-old suffered a huge setback during his fight.

In the second-round, Alvarez fractured his right thumb, and was grimacing after connecting on Smith. On Monday, a Golden Boy Promotions spokesperson commented on Alvarez’s injury and said that his prognosis is excellent.

“Canelo does not need surgery and the prognosis is excellent,” said the spokesperson.

“Canelo’s hand will be immobilized for the next six weeks, and he will be unable to fight again in 2016. This does nothing to Canelo’s plans to move up and take on the best in the middleweight division next year.”

The news will certainly vex boxing enthusiasts, especially since Golden Boy Promotions promoter, Oscar De La Hoya was eying a Dec. 10 bout at Madison Square Garden with either David Lemieux, Billy Joe Saunders and Curtis Stevens serving as possible opponents.

While the immediate future appears gloomy for Alvarez, Golden Boy Promotions president, Eric Gomez said it will be up to Canelo to decide when he’ll fight next.

“If he comes off the rest and feels he wants to do a couple fights before [Gennady] Golovkin, we could have a fight in January or February, but he can’t fight in December,” Gomez said.

“It’s up to him as he’s looking forward to September [2017]. September will be the Golovkin fight.”