Canelo ruled out for remainder of 2016 with fractured thumb

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) has fractured his right thumb and will not fight again this year.

Canelo knocked out Britain's Liam Smith in the ninth round to win the WBO light middleweight title on Saturday night, but confirmed following the fight that he had injured his right hand in the second round.

The Mexican underwent an X-ray and a CT scan on Monday to determine the full extent of the damage and was found to have suffered an avulsion fracture of the right thumb.

The injury will not require surgery, but the hand will be immobilized for the next six weeks, and he won't be able to fight again until next year.

Canelo was scheduled to fight in December against an opponent to be determined. Now his next fight will be pushed back into early 2017.

Canelo's management said it does not alter their plans for a mega-fight between Canelo and world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, likely in September 2017.