Canelo Alvarez outlines four-fight plan for 2021 including unification with Billy Joe Saunders

The Mexican admits he 'really likes' being active two weeks out from his mandatory title defence against Avni Yildirim

Canelo Alvarez has admitted a four-fight year is on his agenda with the Mexican set to meet Billy Joe Saunders to unify at super-middleweight in May.

After defeating Callum Smith, Alvarez has the WBC and WBA titles at 168 pounds, with Saunders' WBO title and American Caleb Plant owning the IBF strap.

After ending a 13-month hiatus caused by a dispute with former promoter Golden Boy and the Covid-19 pandemic, Alvarez is eager to make up for lost time.

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Avni Yildirim is up next on 27 February at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with the likelihood that Canelo will be back out in May against Saunders - with promoter Eddie Hearn eager to announce that fight after his WBC mandatory - before a third fight in September.

A potential fight with Plant in September could provide Canelo with a chance to become the undisputed champion at 168 pounds, should he emerge victorious against both Yildirim and Saunders, of course.

A fourth fight of the calendar year would likely see Canelo back out in December for what would be a rare period of activity for a pound-for-pound star.

“I truly wanna fight a minimum of three times this year,” Alvarez told Boxing Scene. “But I’m always open for one more.

"Of course, the possibility exists for that. I’ve thought about it. Don’t believe I haven’t. I love being active.”

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There is the potential for Canelo to finally face Gennadiy Golovkin in a trilogy bout to round of a breathtaking year.

Golovkin, who maintains he deserved the victory over Canelo in both their fights in 2017 and 2018, could face Jaime Munguia next, with the Mexican's promoter Fernando Beltran, of Zanfer Promotions, recently revealing he is "in talks".