Janibek Mandated to Clear Sheeraz Before Challenging Canelo at Super Middleweight

The WBO has ordered Janibek as the mandatory challenger for Sheeraz at 168 pounds. Janibek must first secure the bout and then overcome a significantly larger opponent in his super middleweight debut.

Sheeraz’s camp may opt to shelve the mandatory requirement to pursue a unification fight against the winner of Canelo versus Mbilli, which would offer a substantially more lucrative payday than a defense against Janibek.

Timing poses a significant obstacle; Canelo faces Mbilli for the WBC title on October 31, meaning Sheeraz would be awaiting a contest that does not yet exist, and the WBO must determine how long Janibek should wait for his mandatory opportunity.

Janibek’s scenario also depends on Canelo defeating Mbilli; only then would Canelo hold the WBC belt necessary for the unification he envisions.

Even if both outcomes align as Janibek anticipates, a final hurdle remains: Canelo must choose him voluntarily.

Canelo faces no shortage of high-profile alternatives. Sheeraz appeals to the British market, while Chris Eubank Jr. offers another lucrative UK draw. A Terence Crawford return would generate massive interest, and Dmitry Bivol provides Canelo the chance to avenge his 2022 defeat.

Looking further ahead, Jaron Ennis and Sebastian Fundora could emerge as recognizable opponents as they move up in weight. David Benavidez remains a major name, though Canelo has shown no interest in meeting him.

Stars several divisions below Canelo might also become viable options if they pursue a Crawford-style jump. Ryan Garcia commands massive drawing power, and Devin Haney or Conor Benn could become commercially attractive choices if they later target Canelo.

This represents the core difficulty for Janibek: securing the WBO title would not automatically compel Canelo to view him as the best business option.

Osleys Iglesias, the IBF champion, is among the dangerous talents at 168, yet Canelo has given no indication he desires that matchup. Holding an IBF belt does not inherently override the risk-versus-reward calculation, and Janibek could face a similar scenario.

From a championship perspective, Janibek’s path is logical: defeat Sheeraz, capture the WBO belt, and call for the WBC title. However, Canelo operates from a position of considerable commercial strength, capable of selecting opponents who generate substantially more revenue.

Before any of this becomes relevant, Janibek must first get his shot at Sheeraz, beat him, and then hope Canelo escapes Mbilli.

Even if all three conditions are met, Janibek still requires Canelo to personally select him as an opponent.

Robert Segal is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24 with more than a decade of experience covering fight news, previews, and analysis. Known for his straightforward reporting and ringside perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, contenders, and emerging talent worldwide.

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