Canelo Alvarez returned to action and returned home on May 6 when he faced Britain's John Ryder at a packed Estadio Akron in Zapopan.
It was Canelo's first fight in his home country of Mexico since 2011 and a first outing since undergoing hand surgery on the back of his trilogy win over Gennadiy Golovkin last year.
Alvarez bust Ryder's nose at the end of round two and dropped him heavily in round five. The challenger fought with commendable heart and guts from that point but Canelo ended as a clear unanimous decision winner on the scorecards.
Canelo now wants a rematch at light heavyweight against Dmitry Bivol, the WBA champion who beat him last year. He remains king at super middleweight, however, even if David Benavidez has something to say about that after his dominant win over former Canelo victim Caleb Plant in March.
MORE: Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder highlights and how the fight played out
The Sporting News recently gathered opinions from members of its combat team to produce a Top-12 list at super middleweight. Everyone agreed on the elite-level players, while opinion was split on the bottom of the list, which features both former champions and up-and-comers:
12. Edgar Berlanga
- Record: 20-0 (16 KOs)
- Next Fight: Faces Irishman Jason Quigley at the Madison Square Garden Theatre on June 24.
Berlanga holds the distinction of scoring the most consecutive first-round knockouts in the modern era. “The Chosen One” halted 17 opponents inside the first three minutes before being taken the eight-round distance by Demond Nicholson in October 2021.
That fight began a trend with Berlanga being extended the 10-round distance in his subsequent three outings. The fact that the knockout streak ended when the New Yorker’s competition level increased has many fans believing that he’s lacking in other areas.
The 25-year-old recently signed with Matchroom Boxing, who still have high hopes for one of boxing’s biggest hitters.
11. Ali Akhmedov
- Record: 19-1 (14 KOs)
- Next Fight: No fight scheduled
The Kazakhstani star is a training partner of unified middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin and a formidable force in the division.
Akhmedov won his first 16 bouts before being shockingly upset by Carlos Gongora (KO 12) in a bout that he was winning comfortably. That fight took place during the pandemic and it’s been suggested that inactivity may have played a factor in his defeat.
The 27-year-old has since bounced back with two stoppage wins and a points triumph over Gabriel Rosado (UD 10).
10. Zack Parker
- Record: 22-1 (16 KOs)
- Next Fight: No fight scheduled
Parker had crossed every “t” and dotted every “i” in a six-and-a-half pro career but ran out of luck in his most recent outing against former world title challenger John Ryder in November.
With the bout just warming up, Parker broke his right hand in the fourth round and was unable to continue. Other than recovery, future plans for the Derby-based fighter are unknown, but he had shown promise in previous wins over Sherzod Khusanov (KO 1) and Marcus Morrison (UD 10).
Still rated No. 6 by the WBO, Parker should walk into something meaningful once he’s fully healed.
9. Anthony Dirrell
- Record: 34-3-2 (25 KOs)
- Next Fight: No fight scheduled
The last time we saw Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell in the ring, he’d been knocked out in spectacular fashion by one Caleb Plant. However, the 38-year-old boxer-puncher is a former two-time WBC champ and has shared the ring with some solid competition.
However, despite holding wins over the likes of Sakio Bika (UD 10), Caleb Truax (TKO 1), and Avni Yildirim (UD 10), Dirrell is still chasing an authentic career-defining win. Unfortunately, Father Time is likely to intervene because the clock is ticking on the Michigan-based veteran.
8. Vladimir Shishkin
- Record: 14-0 (8 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
Despite having been a professional since 2016, it’s a bit early to predict Shishkin’s ceiling in the sport. But in terms of the eye test, the Russian fighter has impressive punch variety, excellent judgement of distance, and ample ring craft.
Shishkin took a step up in class last time out when he faced former world title challenger Jose Uzcategui in December. He passed that test with flying colours, posting a 12-round unanimous decision over the durable Venezuelan.
The 31-year-old Shishkin has called out Canelo, but he’s still on a learning curve and needs to keep his feet on the ground.
MORE: Female pound-for-pound rankings
7. Erik Bazinyan
- Record: 29-0 (21 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
This Armenia-born Canadian has put together an excellent winning run and, although he’s yet to mix with top-level competition, this experience will serve him well going forward.
Promoted by Camille Estephan’s Eye of the Tiger Management, Bazinyan is now in a position to seek out big fights. The 27-year-old holds a top-5 position with three of the four main governing bodies, so he is right in line for an eliminator or a world title shot.
Either way, expect something significant from Bazinyan in 2023.
6. David Morrell
- Record: 9-0 (8 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
With an eye-popping 130-2 record as an amateur, it was decided early that Morrell would be fast-tracked as a pro
The Cuban Star took part in a 12-rounder in just his third professional fight and claimed a unanimous decision win over Lennox Allen to win the WBA interim title. The 25-year-old then picked up the lightly regarded WBA “regular” belt at the expense of Mario Cazares. Three knockout wins in title defences followed: Alantez Fox (TKO 4), Kelvin Henderson (TKO 4), and Aidos Yerbossnuly (TKO 12).
Southpaw Morrell, who has gone back and forth with the ever-outspoken David Benavidez recently, enjoyed what could prove to be a breakout mainstream win on the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia undercard in April 2023, when he demolished Yamaguchi Falcao inside a round. His Brazilian opponent had never previously been stopped.
5. Christian Mbilli
- Record: 24-0 (20 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
Mbilli is yet another thunderous hitter in the super middleweight division. Out of the Frenchman’s 20 knockout victories, 13 of them have come in three rounds or less.
As is the case with some of the other contenders on the list, Mbilli is yet to be matched against a truly elite opponent. However, all the signs suggest that the 27-year-old knockout artist is for real and that his time is coming. For evidence, see Mbilli’s one-punch knockout of Nadjib Mohammedi.
He was forced to go the 10-round distance in his first outing of 2023 against Ecuador's Carlos Gongora, although he was a comfortable unanimous decision winner on the cards.
MORE: Boxing Top 12 pound-for-pound list
4. John Ryder
- Record: 32-6 (18 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
It's been a rough ride for John Ryder (excuse the pun). Following four losses at the domestic level — to Billy Joe Saunders, Nick Blackwell, Jack Arnfield, and Rocky Fielding — the London-based southpaw improved his game and ascended the ranks.
In November 2019, after turning in a career-best performance, Ryder suffered what many felt was a bogus decision loss to then-WBA and Ring Magazine champion Callum Smith. Not to be outdone, the 34-year-old Ryder bounced back with quality wins over Daniel Jacobs and Zach Parker to set up the opportunity of a lifetime.
Canelo proved a step up in class too far, but Ryder did his prospects of future big nights no harm at all as he continued to fire back and bravely completed the 12-round distance. Once a broken nose has heeled, "The Gorilla" would be an intriguing foe for many of the names on this list.
3. Caleb Plant
- Record: 22-2 (13 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
Plant burst onto the world scene in 2019 when he claimed the IBF championship at the expense of Jose Uzcategui (UD 12). Three accomplished title defences followed before the Nashville, Tennessee, native was matched with pound-for-pound superstar Canelo Alvarez in November 2021.
Despite boxing well early, Plant was worn down and stopped in the penultimate round of boxing's first-ever undisputed super middleweight title fight. It was a tough loss, but the 30-year-old got back on the horse, hired Stephen “Breadman” Edwards as chief second, and sought new challenges.
Last October, Plant scored a brutal one-punch knockout of former two-time champ Anthony Dirrell. However, his loss to Benavidez and the nature of it gave the 168lbs division a clear one and two.
2. David Benavidez
- Record: 27-0 (23 KOs)
- Next fight: No fight scheduled
Boxing's ultimate bogeyman, Benavidez is the popular choice among many fans to dethrone undisputed champ Canelo Alvarez. Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but the lightning-quick slugger from Phoenix by way of Las Vegas is game for it.
Benavidez, 26, was taken the distance for the first time in over five years by Plant and some of his highlight reel knockouts have been breath-taking. Despite the fact that he's twice held the WBC title in this weight class, the feeling is that his biggest nights lie ahead.
His beatdown of Plant only added to Benavidez’s fearsome reputation. Will he get the big one next?
MORE: Who will be appearing on the Benavidez vs. Plant undercard
1. Canelo Alvarez
- Record: 59-2-2 (39 KOs)
- Next Fight: No fight scheduled
Canelo moved into the super middleweight division in December 2018 and less than three years later he was anointed as the first undisputed champion in that weight class. The Mexican star defeated three previously unbeaten opponents to confirm his supremacy: Callum Smith (UD 12), Billy Joe Saunders (TKO 8), and Caleb Plant (TKO 11).
In truth, Canelo was a nailed-on Hall of Famer long before he entered the 168lbs division, and anything he achieves now is merely icing on his Canastota cake.
After enjoying a long-awaited homecoming against Ryder, the four-weight world champ now has a Bivol rematch in his sights, while Benavidez is another fan-friendly option.