Canelo Will ‘Fight’ Benavidez – Says Sampson Lewkowicz
Sampson Lewkowicz, David Benavidez’s promoter, is confident that a fight with Canelo Alvarez can be made by the end of the year.
Canelo will take on Jaime Munguia on May 4 as he defends his Undisputed Super Middleweight Title. The fight was a surprise, given Alvarez’s previous comments. He confirmed that he does not fight Mexicans since he represents Mexico.
This created the narrative that Canelo was ducking Benavidez since Munguia is Mexican. However, after the first presser between Canelo and Munguia, Alvarez stated that he would fight Benavidez if he received $150-200 million. Those comments divided the fanbase, with some suggesting that Canelo was pricing himself out of the fight.
Canelo vs Benavidez
“You know he he brings he bring nothing to the table for me; just he brings just 25 pounds more in the night the the fight…but if he if if some promoter, not him, because he’s nothing to offer me…but I one promoter who I work to they come and say I offer to I offer to you 150 to 200 million. I fight tomorrow…that’s the only that’s the only reason I fight with him,” Canelo said
“Canelo, if I have nothing to offer, then why are you demanding that you get 150-200 million to fight someone who isn’t worth anything? Hopefully, after you make that 150 million, you have enough left over to buy a pair of nuts,” Benavidez stated
The only way the fight could be financed would be if Saudi Arabia were behind it. The Kingdom is putting on some of the biggest fights in the sports, with Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk coming up on May 18 for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship.
Saudi Arabia has also managed to agree to an Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for June 1. Lewkowicz felt a Canelo vs. Benavidez bout could follow, but not in September for Mexican Independence Day.
Benavidez’s Promoter
“I believe he will get the $175 million, and he will fight him. It would be shameful for boxing and destroy part of our sport if he doesn’t fight Benavidez. So, now we know the price. Now we need to find to get the money, but he’s very smart, a very good businessman, Canelo.
“I believe he deserves 150 [million]. I don’t know if he’ll reach 200, but 150, why not? Mayweather did it, and he followed the blueprint of Mayweather. Don’t underestimate it any longer. I don’t know about September because if he [Benavidez] fights in June, he will not fight in September. I will not allow that, but November is a good time to do that fight,” Lewkowicz said
Benavidez has also remained optimistic that a fight can be made. The Mexican Monster has understandably become frustrated by Canelo’s refusal to make the bout. Benavidez has been the WBC Super Middleweight Interim Champion for more than two years. However, the WBC has not called the mandatory, nor has it decided to strip Canelo. But Benavidez was still hopeful about the fight getting made.
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