Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has been offered an immediate chance to win back his IBF super-middleweight title by facing undefeated puncher Osleys Iglesias for the vacant strap.

The Mexican icon lost his undisputed titles to Terence Crawford in their September superfight at Allegiant Stadium, which the latter won via unanimous decision.

But the division has been left wide open again following Crawford's decision to retire on December 16, bringing an end to his glittering 42-0 run and thus vacating his four belts.

Now, the IBF have made their move to install a new champion by ordering a fight between their top two rated fighters. Iglesias (14-0, 13 KOs) is currently No. 1 in the IBF rankings while Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs) is sitting third behind an empty No. 2 slot.

Camille Estephan, who promotes Iglesias, took to social media to confirm the news. "IBF officially ordered: Iglesias vs Canelo," he wrote. "The next chapter begins. Talk about ending the year on a high note."

However, despite the order from the IBF as reported last week, a fight between the pair seems unlikely at this stage. Canelo, The Ring's No. 1-rated super middleweight, is still recovering from the surgery on his left elbow, which took place in late October.

Before the procedure there were hopes that Canelo might return as early as February but now even a May comeback seems unlikely, with a fight around Mexican Independence weekend in September probable.

Such a schedule would rule out this particular fight with The Ring's 168-pound No. 2 Iglesias, who would represent a high risk and low reward out for the two-time undisputed super-middleweight champion.

Should Canelo decide against entering the ordered negotiations from the IBF, the sanctioning body would likely go down their list of available contenders with Jaime Munguia sitting at No. 4 and England's Callum Simpson, who was stopped by Troy Williamson on December 20, at No. 5.

Iglesias is considered one of the division's most destructive contenders and added to that reputation in his last fight, when he crushed Vladimir Shishkin in the eighth round of their September encounter.