Canelo Reveals Why Benavidez Fight Never Happened

Canelo Alvarez has finally addressed the question that followed him through his entire undisputed middleweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super middleweight reign — why he never fought David Benavidez.

The answer, as Canelo tells it, comes down to a simple principle that governed his entire approach to the division: he only fought champions.

"When we were both at 168, I fought every champion in that division. Why did he never fight those champions? If he was a champion at that point, I'd fight him. My goal was being undisputed. Right now it's just impossible. He can fight with heavyweights, do you know what I mean,” Canelo

Canelo became the first undisputed super middleweight champion in 2021 by stopping Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders, and Caleb Plant within twelve months — a run that required beating actual champions to unify the division. Benavidez, despite being widely considered the most dangerous opponent available at 168 pounds, was never in that position at the right time.

The reason comes down to a weight miss. Benavidez held the WBC super middleweight belt in 2020 before being stripped after failing to make weight ahead of his fight with Roamer Alexis Angulo. The vacant title was subsequently added to Canelo's clash with Smith, meaning Benavidez had effectively handed Canelo the belt he needed without ever having to fight him for it.

Critics have never fully accepted that framing, pointing to Benavidez's WBC mandatory status during the period Canelo was defending the belt against Golovkin, Ryder, and Charlo. The mandatory position existed precisely because the WBC recognised Benavidez as the rightful next challenger.

The conversation is now largely academic. Benavidez is a three-division champion operating at cruiserweight and heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight, with his days at super middleweight behind him. Canelo is preparing for his September 12 return against WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh.