Canelo Tells Benavidez ‘I Want Nothing To Do With That Fight’
Canelo Alvarez has no plans to fight David Benavidez as he stuck by his decision to face Jaime Munguia.
Canelo defends his Undisputed Super Middleweight Title on May 4. The boxing fans were desperate to see the David Benavidez fight, but Munguia got the nod. Benavidez is the WBC Super Middleweight Interim Champion, a position he has been in for over two years.
When Canelo was asked about the Benavidez fight, he requested $150-200 million to take it. No promoter could feasibly put up those numbers; even the Saudis were reluctant. Canelo was accused of pricing himself out.
Benavidez is also on record, saying he is open to taking a rehydration clause if there are worries over the size difference. However, with no progress being made, the WBC must decide. They must either enforce the mandatory or strip Canelo. This is especially true since Alvarez has no intention of taking that fight.
Canelo On Benavidez
“And then what? You’re going to talk about that clause. When I beat him, they’re going to say that I put that clause. I want nothing to do with that fight. Yeah, it’s a lose-lose situation because after the fight, they [Team Benavidez] are going to talk about, ‘Because of this.’ I fight with any fighter and I win my good money. I can do whatever I want at this time because I deserve it. I did everything in my career, and I deserve to be in this position. I’m going to do whatever I want,” Canelo stated
Alvarez has gotten his way for now. Benavidez will box Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC Light Heavyweight Interim Title on June 22. A victory makes him mandatory for the winner of Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev. Bivol and Beterbiev box on June 1 for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship.
If Benavidez becomes a WBC mandatory at 168 and 175, the organization will be pressured into taking some action. Once Benavidez has fought at 175, there are worries he won’t be able to come down to 168. If the Canelo fight cannot happen at 168, it will not happen at 175.
Canelo Criticised
Alvarez had already moved up to 175 to box Bivol. The Mexican was dominated and bullied in a one-sided unanimous decision loss. Paulie Malignaggi accused Alvarez of disrespecting throwback fighters, namely Muhammad Ali, who would fight anyone.
“Imagine if Muhammad Ali acted like Canelo. Muhammad Ali fought everyone in their prime, and that’s why boxing became so big. In the 80s, boxing was all over network TV, with [strong] ratings. Why Because in the previous generation, Ali did what Ali did. He didn’t win every fight, but he took on every tough opponent – the biggest risk he could find. George Foreman, Ken Norton … the way he did it is the way a champion does it. He was not bigger than the sport. He didn’t act that way,” Malignaggi stated
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