The expectation that Canelo Alvarez will fight new WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli next is not a foregone conclusion, an official connected to the negotiations told BoxingScene Monday.

Rather than declare Mbilli the frontrunner to be Alvarez’s next opponent, the individual, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said, “He [Mbilli] is in the mix.

“Whoever [the September opponent] is will have the best pay day they’ve ever had.” 

France’s Mbilli 29-0-1 (24 KOs) retained his WBC interim title by a razor-thin margin when he fought Guatemala’s Lester Martinez to a September 13 draw on the undercard of Alvarez’s loss of his undisputed titles versus Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Five-division champion Crawford retired in December, opening all the belts to others as Mbilli was elevated to full champion.

The individual said it may be “a few weeks” before Mexico’s four-division champion and former pound-for-pound king Alvarez 63-3-2 (39 KOs) selects whom he wants to fight next, with his return bout planned in Saudi Arabia on September 14 to mark Mexican Independence Day weekend.

That would open up consideration for other 168lbs champions and contenders, including new WBA champion Jose Armando Resendiz, who meets Alvarez’s stablemate and former title challenger Jaime Munguia May 2 in Las Vegas.

Resendiz met Alvarez at The Ring Magazine Awards in New York earlier this year.

“It was a short exchange … [Alvarez] gave me a few motivational words. Nothing else,” Resendiz, 16-2 (11 KOs), told BoxingScene last week.

Resendiz said he would crave a fight against Alvarez.

“Of course. We’ve got to let this [Munguia] fight play out. What I do know is that with each fight, each day, I’m one step closer,” Resendiz, 27, said.

Later in May, Hamzah Sheeraz, a favorite fighter of Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, will be a substantial betting favorite (-1450) when he meets Alem Begic May 23 for the vacant WBO 168lbs title.

Former middleweight champion Jermall Charlo is also said to be a longshot candidate to be Alvarez’s next foe, the official said.

“Whatever it is,” the official said, “it will be Canelo’s choice.”