Ryan Garcia Slams Canelo For Ducking Benavidez – ‘Canelo Will Get Touched Up’

Canelo Alvarez must fight David Benavidez.

That is according to his former stablemate Ryan Garcia. Alvarez’s last fight was a unanimous decision win over Jermell Charlo. Since then, he has been linked with the Benavidez fight, who is the WBC Super Middleweight Interim Champion. 

But Alvarez’s departure from PBC has left that fight in doubt. Canelo is likely to work with DAZN again alongside Matchroom Boxing, with Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga mentioned as possible opponents. But Garcia was clear Canelo had to fight Benavidez, given the magnitude of the fight. 

Garcia Reacts

“He has to fight Benavidez to keep boxing going. I think he has to. Who wants to live in the past? This [is] now. This is the biggest fight to make… You’re Canelo, the face of boxing. Why aren’t you doing it? Canelo, unless he waits too long. It is not going to be easy, and Canelo will get touched up, but I think his experience [will win him the fight],” Garcia said

Garcia is certainly not afraid to face the biggest names. He took on Gervonta Davis in the biggest fight of 2023. The bout produced the highest gate of that year, selling over 1.2 million PPVs. Despite this, Garcia ended up being stopped in the seventh round. 

But that has not stopped Garcia from continuing to pursue the biggest fights. He is on course to face Devin Haney on April 20 for the latter’s WBC Junior Welterweight Title. A victory gives Garcia his first world title. He has also outlined a hit list, which includes Shakur Stevenson and the Gervonta Davis rematch. But his relationship with Alvarez has strained after suggestions Garcia was not taking his career seriously. 

Garcia On Canelo

“I don’t know [what caused the rift]. He would just say little s*** about me. It’s crazy. [Why not] Just call me up and tell me you need to be doing this. I went through a real mental health crisis. I don’t care what anybody says, that was real. They can say I faked it all they want. They weren’t in my shoes. You didn’t feel the things I felt. I took it on the chin though, but he made me look like a clown,” Garcia added

But Garcia has not helped his cause. He found himself in significant controversy after admitting he was ‘high’ during a live space interaction with his fanbase. That was the day before his LA kickoff presser with Haney, raising suggestions Garcia was not taking the bout seriously. Although Garcia admitted to using ‘weed,’ he doubted claims he was not preparing himself for the fight. 

“Bro, I know so many of the top athletes in the world, that they would do crazier s**t than me and be the best in the world. I’m not a dry snitch so I won’t say nothing. At the end of the day I don’t do s**t. I box, smoke weed and drink, and I’m the best.

“At the end of the day you’ve got business, entertainment, and it’s all a show but this is the most truthful show in the world. I can f**k around but if I’m not training I’m going to get f***ed up. The difference is I’m training everyday,” Garcia stated

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