According to Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Alvarez, they have made the strategic decision to postpone their typical September fight. It's been claimed that their decision was made "in an effort to secure the right opponent and to do justice to the level of promotion required for a boxing star of his magnitude." 

Though Canelo typically fights in May and September, it is not without precedent to fight later in the year as Canelo did fight in December of 2018 in Madison Square Garden when he knocked out Rocky Fielding for the WBA "regular" title at super middleweight.

Canelo's next fight will now take place later in 2019.

Canelo's team had been negotiating with the likes of WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, who is now scheduled to fight next month in Russia against mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde. Kovalev's team was unable to reach an agreement on the money for Canelo.

Offers were also sent to WBO champion Demetrius Andrade and WBO 154-pound champion Jaime Munguia - but streaming service DAZN was most interested in a trilogy fight with Gennady Golovkin, who recently made his debut with the streaming service - but Canelo had little to no interest in facing Golovkin for a third time, at least right now.

"As a Mexican, it's a responsibility and an honor to represent my country in both May and September," said Canelo.

"Those are my dates. However, as a world champion in multiple weight classes, I also have the responsibility of delivering the most exciting and competitive fights possible. That's why Golden Boy and my team have decided to postpone the date in order to do right by my fans by promoting the best fight possible and with the best opponent possible."

Canelo was last seen in action back in May, when he won a twelve round unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs to unify the WBA, WBC, IBF middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.