Canelo sidelined for remainder of 2016 with thumb fracture

Canelo Alvarez, who won the WBO junior middleweight title on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has an avulsion fracture of his right thumb and his hand will be immobilized for six weeks. (Getty Images)

 

Plans for a Canelo Alvarez appearance at Madison Square Garden to be televised on HBO on Dec. 10 had to be scrapped on Monday when an examination revealed the new WBO junior middleweight champion has an avulsion fracture of his right thumb and his hand will be immobilized for six weeks.

The once-beaten Alvarez suffered the injury during a ninth-round stoppage of Liam Smith on Saturday before an enthusiastic throng of more than 50,000 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

According to a statement from Golden Boy spokesman Stefan Friedman, surgery is not required. Alvarez was examined by Dr. Pedro Jaime Lomeli.

“After taking X-rays and conducting a CT scan, the doctor found an avulsion fracture of the right thumb,” Friedman said in a statement. “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.”

According to Mayo Clinic.com, “An avulsion fracture occurs when a small chunk of bone attached to a tendon or ligament gets pulled away from the main part of the bone. … Treatment typically includes resting and icing the affected area, followed by controlled exercises that help restore range of motion, improve muscle strength and promote bone healing.”

Fans and the media have been hopeful that Alvarez would move up to middleweight to challenge IBF/WBA/WBC champion Gennady Golovkin in what is the best fight that can currently be made in boxing.

Alvarez promoter Oscar De La Hoya had maintained that Alvarez would fight Golovkin in September 2017, after Alvarez had bouts in December and then in May.

His short-term plans are on hold until he sees how his thumb heals. Golovkin has tentatively planned to fight on Nov. 26, with Daniel Jacobs and B.J. Saunders the leading candidates.