Mike Tyson Slams Canelo For Ducking Benavidez – Respect The Legacy Of The Great Mexican Champions’
Mike Tyson has slammed Canelo Alvarez for not fighting David Benavidez.
The Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion has not fought since beating Jermell Charlo last year. Alvarez’s next fight was targeted for Cinco De Mayo Weekend. PBC and Canelo parted ways after disagreeing on the next opponent.
The promotional outfit would only pay Canelo a $35 million guarantee if he faced David Benavidez afterwards. But since the Mexican Monster was not part of Canelo’s initial three-fight deal, the whole structure broke down as Canelo departed. That leaves a Benavidez fight less likely, leaving Mike Tyson frustrated at not seeing the most significant events.
Tyson On Canelo
“I can’t believe what I just heard. Canelo rejected 60 million dollars to fight Benavidez, who is a tremendous fighter, young, strong, with hunger and Mexican pride. What’s wrong with Canelo? Is he afraid of losing? Doesn’t he want to give the fans the fight they want to see? Don’t you want to give the fans the fight they want to see?
“Do you not respect the legacy of the great Mexican champions who faced the best regardless of the money?… This is a shame for boxing and for Mexico. If I were him, I would accept the fight with Benavidez and show the world that he is the best. But it seems he doesn’t have the courage to do it; It is a shame, because he has a lot of talent, but he lacks heart,” Tyson said
Benavidez has been vocal about accepting a $5 million offer to fight the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion, only for Canelo to walk away allegedly. That may now see Benavidez move up to light heavyweight to take on Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC Interim Light Heavyweight Belt.
A victory would allow the Mexican Monster to become mandatory for the winner of Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, who face off on June 1 for the right to become undisputed. If Benavidez moves up to 175, there is a high chance that the Canelo fight is over for good. He may struggle to come down to 168. But Benavidez must do what is best for his career, which is why he is not too stuck on fighting Canelo.
Benavidez On Canelo
“His actions speak a lot of words. This was the biggest fight, so him parting ways with PBC, even though this fight for me and him was on the table, it just speaks volumes. I’m not going to be waiting on Canelo. After I fight Canelo, my career doesn’t end. It’s frustrating, but it gives me a bad name at the end of the day, too. The reason why this fight is not happening is because Canelo doesn’t want it to happen, plain and simple,” Benavidez stated
Since Benavidez is the WBC mandatory at 168, the WBC is facing pressure to call the mandatory, which will be in March. That leaves Canelo with a big choice to make over his titles. Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
