The boxing world has been buzzing with the desire to see David Benavidez step into the ring with Canelo Alvarez. However, it seems that Canelo himself is not as eager to make this fight happen anytime soon. While some may hesitate to accuse Canelo of ducking Benavidez, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Mexican star has not shown a willingness to face off against his fellow champion. Benavidez, on the other hand, has made it clear that he is more than willing to take on the challenge.
In a recent statement, Benavidez expressed his frustration, stating, “To be honest with you, I did everything in my power possible to make that fight happen. I beat the fighters that they told me I couldn’t beat. I was the No. 1 contender for the past three years, but I had my hands tied.”
Canelo’s Reluctance
Benavidez has made it clear that the lack of progress in securing a fight with Canelo is not on his end. He boldly claimed, “The only reason this fight is not happening is because Canelo doesn’t want it to happen, because he knows damn well that when he faces me, I’m taking all of his titles home with me.” It’s evident that Benavidez is more than ready to take on the biggest challenge of his career, even if Canelo is not currently on board.
Currently, Canelo holds the undisputed super middleweight title, while Benavidez is moving up in weight to face Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the interim WBC light heavyweight title. Despite this, Benavidez remains hopeful that a fight with Canelo will eventually materialize. He mentioned, “I think it will happen, but I don’t know when. I think this is too big of a fight to leave on the table like that. Everybody wants to see this fight and I want to be in this fight, too.”
Benavidez’s Focus
While Benavidez is keeping an eye on the potential showdown with Canelo, he is also focused on his present endeavors. He explained, “I tried to unify the titles but I did not get that opportunity, so I came up to 175. Now, this fight is going to put me in a position to fight for all of the titles at 175, and I’m going to continue to be a dominant force in whatever weight class I choose to fight in.”
There is a strong possibility that Benavidez’s prediction of a future fight with Canelo may indeed come true. Despite Canelo’s cautious approach in selecting his opponents, the allure of a high-profile matchup with Benavidez may prove too tempting to pass up. While Canelo may have the luxury of picking his foes, the pressure from fans and the boxing community may eventually push him towards a showdown with Benavidez.
The potential clash between David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez remains a hot topic in the boxing world. While Canelo’s reluctance to face Benavidez has been noted, it’s clear that Benavidez is determined to make the fight happen. Only time will tell if these two champions will eventually step into the ring together, but the anticipation for such a matchup continues to grow.