Malignaggi Reacts To Canelo Potentially Avoiding Benavidez – ‘The Biggest Duck In Boxing History’
Paulie Malignaggi has reacted to reports that Canelo Alvarez will not fight David Benavidez this year.
Reports indicate that the Mexican will face Jermall Charlo on May 4th and Terence Crawford on September 14th. Both are not natural 168-pounders, leaving Benavidez, who was the WBC mandatory for around two years, out in the cold.
If those reports are true, there will be pressure on the WBC to call that mandatory, leaving Canelo with a choice. He could vacate his title and avoid Benavidez or make one of the biggest fights in boxing. But if Canelo decides to vacate, then Malignaggi felt it was one of the biggest ducks of all time.
Malignaggi Reacts
“The rumors I’m hearing is [Jermall] Charlo in May. I’m not going to get too crazy about that until I get confirmation. If it’s Charlo and Spence [for Canelo this year], I don’t know how you boycott that. If Canelo doesn’t fight Benavidez, is this the biggest duck in boxing history?
“You are a champion, and he is the bonified #1 contender, and you even got a guy like Munguia and Morrell, who are dangerous as well. You’re talking about the biggest duck in boxing history. This is in your same weight class, and you are the champion. Is Benavidez being ducked more blatantly than that? I think he is at this point,” Malignaggi said
Despite this, Canelo could be building up the fight. Floyd Mayweather has shown fighters the blueprint when he waited an age to fight Manny Pacquiao. The bout took place when both boxers were not in their prime. But by doing so, Mayweather managed to earn a considerable amount of money that would not have otherwise been possible.
The boxer has now managed to accumulate wealth, which has made him a billionaire. The other alternative is that Canelo has nothing else to prove in the sport. He is the current Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion and a four-division champion.
Benavidez Reacts
He is one of the most lucrative fighters, giving him the leverage to decide who he faces. Bouts with Crawford and Charlo can produce big live gates while, at the same time, posing less of a risk than facing Benavidez. But the Mexican Monster has been left unhappy, calling for Canelo to be stripped.
“The past two years and I’ve been doing my job, I’ve been doing my thing. That’s what happens when you’re number one contender. You fight for the belt, so I think they [WBC] should do the right thing, and if he [Canelo Alvarez] doesn’t want to fight, strip him with a title, but like I said, I want to make my own lane. “I don’t want to just be that fighter waiting for Canelo. As I’m doing now, I fought Caleb Plant, and now I’m fighting Demetrius. I want to make my own lane. I’m very excited,” Benavidez stated
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