Canelo Alvarez won't fight again in 2016 after fracturing his right hand, according to Golden Boy Promotions.

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Injury Won't Require Surgery

Monday, Sept. 19

According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, Alvarez fractured his right thumb during his fight against Liam Smith on Saturday, and his hand will be immobilized for six weeks.

Golden Boy spokesman Stefan Friedman commented on the injury in a statement, per Iole:

After taking X-rays and conducting a CT scan, the doctor found an avulsion fracture of the right thumb. Canelo does not need surgery, and the prognosis is excellent. 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.

Alvarez, 26, knocked out Smith in the ninth round of their WBO junior middleweight title bout. He improved to 48-1-1 (34 KOs) in his career and left fans continuing to clamor for a showdown between him and the hard-hitting Gennady Golovkin—a fight that promoter Oscar De La Hoya has "steadfastly insisted" he won't make until September 2017, per Iole.

Alvarez seemed ready for Golovkin after his victory Saturday, though, per Iole:

I fear no one. I was born for this. And even though many people may not like it, I am the best fighter right now. About a month ago, we offered [Golovkin] twice or three times as much to make the fight. I didn't want to say anything because I respect all my rivals, but about a month ago, we offered him twice or three times, so we're ready. We're ready for him. He just didn't want to accept.

De La Hoya had said his plans were for Alvarez to fight in December and May before facing Golovkin. It remains to be seen whether Alvarez's injury will push the anticipated matchup back even further.

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