CANELO ALVAREZ has been given the green-light to challenge for the vacant super-middleweight title after the WBC voted in his favour.
The green and gold strap is up for grabs after David Benavidez, 23, failed to make weight in his last fight and was penalised.
Avni Yildirim – who was beaten by Chris Eubank Jr in 2017 – was next in line for the belt.
Canelo, Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Jason Quigley all lobbied to face the Turk.
But has been revealed the WBC voted in a landslide for Mexican Canelo, 29, who is still searching for his next opponent.
Alvarez won the WBO light-heavyweight crown against Sergey Kovalev last November but was already eyeing a move to 168lb.
He was due to face WBO champion Saunders, 30, in the summer until the coronavirus pandemic KO’d the clash.
WBA titelst Smith, 30, then emerged as a frontrunner to box the Mexican, after Eddie Hearn confirmed talks.
But with the WBC belt now stripped from Benavidez, Canelo could instead face 29-year-old Yildirim.
Alvarez, who still holds two belts at middleweight, plotted a move back down to super-middle to cement his place as a four-division champ.
He won the WBA’s ‘Regular’ title against Rocky Fielding in 2018.
After his comeback fight, which could take place behind closed doors, Canelo is in line to face rival Gennady Golovkin in a trilogy bout.
Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez told Sky Sports.”We have had some discussions about doing the third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin which would be very exciting.
“He is willing to entertain that third fight.
“Hopefully we can surprise everybody by getting that fight going next year.”
