In today’s boxing news, Canelo Alvarez will face David Benavidez if the latter does end up beating Demetrius Andrade. 

That is according to Eddie Hearn. The two fighters square off on November 25th, 2023, for the WBC interim super middleweight belt.

The winner will retain their undefeated record and place themselves in line for all of Canelo’s belts. The Mexican Monster has been the mandatory for over a year, and yet, a fight could not be agreed.

Although the WBC will face pressure to call the mandatory, Hearn expects Alvarez to finally fight Benavidez after the Andrade fight if he is victorious. 

Hearn On Canelo

"When you look at Canelo, you got to look at where the real challenges are coming from. Benavidez against Andrade is a good fight. I expect Benavidez to stop Demetrius Andrade, and when he does, I think he’s going to make a real claim to fight Canelo Alvarez, and I think Canelo at that point will take the fight. I think it will be that big that he will take it, and I don’t think he’s afraid of David Benavidez. Canelo isn’t afraid of anyone, and he will fight everybody. The deal’s got to be right, of course, but he’ll still fight them," Hearn stated 

Those comments would play in line with Alvarez’s three-fight PBC deal. Having already faced Jermell Charlo, whom he beat via a unanimous decision, the Mexican’s last two fights could occur on Mexican Independence Day or Cinco De Mayo weekend. And with two fights left, that could provide fans an opportunity to see a rematch too. 

Espinoza On Canelo

Those comments have been backed up by Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza. A bout between the two would pit two Mexican fighters against each other in a battle for the best super middleweight of the era.

Alvarez would the slight favorite, given that the Mexican’s accomplishments outweigh what Benavidez has managed to achieve. Alvarez is a four-divison champion, whose only two defeats came against Dmitry Bivol and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

While Benavidez remains undefeated, Alvarez’s caliber of opposition is a lot higher, as well as having more than double the fights that the Mexican Monster has had. And provided that Benavidez overcomes Andrade, Espinoza foresaw a bout with Canelo next. 

"I know the [Dmitry] Bivol rematch [with Canelo] has some people excited. The winner of this fight [Benavidez-Andrade] seems like the most natural one, but it’s up to Canelo. We already saw a small guy [154-pounder Jermell Charlo] go up and fight Canelo. How is this going to be any different," Espinoza said

Ultimately, Canelo has put himself in a position to choose the fights that are suited to him. While that may be the case, the failure to fight Benavidez will only increase the claims that he is ducking the Mexican Monster.

However, a loss to Benavidez would be huge as the winner will go down as Mexico’s finest fighter. And with so much on the line, the bout offers up an intriguing dynamic.