David Benavidez doubts Canelo would have fought him if he still had his 168-lb title ⋆ Boxing News 24
By Sean Jones: David Benavidez says he has doubts whether or not Canelo Alvarez would have agreed to battle him if he hadn’t misplaced his WBC tremendous middleweight title on the scales in 2020 earlier than a title protection towards Alexis Roamer Angulo.
(Picture credit score: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME)
Benavidez states that if Canelo thought it was a simple mark, he would have fought him a very long time in the past as an alternative of the no-name British guys he’s been padding his document with for the final three years since 2018.
In different phrases, if Benavidez nonetheless held the WBC title, Canelo most likely wouldn’t have tried to grow to be the undisputed champion at 168.
The undefeated former two-time WBC 168-lb champion Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) is hoping that Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) will face him on Cinco de Mayo vacation weekend subsequent Might.
Benavidez is the necessary challenger for Canelo’s belt, in order that’s motive sufficient for the battle to occur. Sadly for Benavidez, he’s not the one necessary for Canelo.
John Ryder is Canelo’s WBA necessary, and a equally early battle for him to those he’s had not too long ago towards Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith, and Rocky Fielding.
This Saturday night time on November thirteenth, Benavidez might be going through Kyrone Davis on Showtime on the Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona.
It’s a keep busy/showcase battle for the 24-year-old Benavidez, as his beforehand scheduled opponent Jose Uzcategui failed a pre-fight drug check and is not on the cardboard.
Benavidez says why Canelo hasn’t fought him
“I don’t know, I can’t say as a result of if I used to be a simple goal, they [Alvarez] would have took me already,” stated Benavidez to Fighthype when requested if he’d have already fought Canelo if he hadn’t misplaced his WBC 168-lb title by coming in 2 3/4 kilos over the restrict for his title protection towards Roamer Alexis Angulo in August 2020.
“If I’m such a simple battle, I’m a two-time world champion and if I used to be that straightforward to take out, they [Team Canelo] would have did already as a result of it’s an excellent title on their resume however they haven’t executed it for a motive,” stated Benavidez on Canelo avoiding him.
“Positively, two nice Mexican fighters going towards one another, no person backs down from one another, so it can positively be a banger,” stated Benavidez on him going through Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo on Might seventh, 2022.
“For some time now. I really feel like my weight loss program is being taken care of fairly good, and proper now, we’re not likely struggling,” stated Benavidez when requested how for much longer he’ll be capable to make 168.
“I imply, making weight is all the time going to be arduous, and it’s not straightforward for anyone. So long as we have now an excellent routine with our weight loss program, I feel we will make it [168] for a pair extra years,” stated Benavidez.
It’s apparent to most boxing followers which have their eyes open that Canelo would have by no means tried to grow to be the undisputed champion at 168 if Benavidez hadn’t misplaced his WBC tremendous middleweight title on the scales in 2020.
Like Benavidez says, if he was such a simple mark, Canelo would have fought him a very long time in the past as a result of his title would have regarded good on his resume.
Furthermore, Canelo would have obtained far more curiosity from the U.S boxing public by combating Benavidez than the paper champions at 168, Billy Joe Saunders, Rocky Fielding, Callum Smith, and Caleb Plant.
These have been a weak bunch of belt-holders that Canelo cherry-picked to take their titles from them.
Benavidez desires Jermall, winner faces Canelo
“I might like to get a battle towards [Jermall] Charlo. We may each get the battle, and the winner takes the battle with Canelo, and it’s solely honest. And it’s extra fascinating for the world of boxing.
“I feel he’s [Jermall Charlo] making an attempt to skip the road, however all people is making an attempt to catch that paycheck,” stated Benavidez about Charlo making an attempt to get forward of him to face Canelo subsequent regardless of by no means having fought at 168.
Canelo most likely wouldn’t conform to battle Benavidez, even when he did destroy the badly flawed Jermall. It’s uncertain that Canelo will battle Benavidez beneath any circumstances, and he’ll doubtless proceed to deal with straightforward fights like we’ve been seeing from him since 2018.
This author is predicting Canelo will defend subsequent towards his WBA necessary John Ryder in England.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has already given Canelo the thought of coming to the UK to battle Ryder, and it’s possible that he’ll go in that path as an alternative of going through Benavidez, Artur Beterbiev, or Dmitry Bivol for his subsequent battle.
There’s little likelihood that Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) will conform to take a battle with Benavidez to attempt to earn a mega-payday towards Canelo.
We’ve already heard Jermall discuss his causes for why he doesn’t really feel a battle with Benavidez is required.
Charlo identified not too long ago that Benavidez being too younger, needing to be vaccinated, and never possessing a world title as his rationale for not combating him.
If Charlo wants an excuse for why he shouldn’t should battle Benavidez, he’s going to search out one as a result of he’s presently belt-less, and that’s motive sufficient to not battle him.
What it comes all the way down to, although, is that Charlo could make much more cash combating Canelo than Benavidez, and that’s what’s all about.
I imply, we simply noticed Caleb Plant, who was arguably a paper champion, get a career-high $10 million payday towards Canelo final Saturday night time of their battle on Showtime PPV. For all intents and functions, Plant was Billy Joe Saunders 2.0.
The one distinction was Plant wasn’t dumb sufficient to lean ahead in entrance of Canelo along with his arms down by his sides the best way Saunders did final Might.
Benavidez prepared for Kyrone Davis
“Kyrone Davis, I do know he fought Anthony Dirrell,” stated Benavidez. “He has 14 fights, six knockouts, and two losses. He doesn’t have a lot punching energy, however he’s by no means been knocked out as effectively, so I need to be the primary one to knock him out.
“He’s extra of a boxer, however he doesn’t actually transfer round an excessive amount of,” Benavidez continued in regards to the 27-year-old Kyrone. “He’s extra of a counter puncher, I ought to say, however he’s nonetheless a reside canine. So I’ve bought to be cautious initially and work out a rhythm and work out a sport plan, after which execute.
“I don’t know,” stated Benavidez when requested if Kyrone Davis is a more durable opponent than his beforehand scheduled battle towards former IBF tremendous middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui, who was pulled from the battle after testing optimistic for a banned substance.
“I’ve sparred Uzcategui, however I haven’t fought him, so I can’t say he’s a more durable opponent till I’ve fought each of them.
“With Uzcategui, he had a number of punching energy and a number of knockouts, and he was an ex-champion.
“So, I might say Uzcategui is the more durable opponent [than Kyrone], however he is aware of it’s a giant alternative for him, so he’ll be extraordinarily prepared, and I’m extraordinarily prepared,” stated Benavidez.
This can be a enormous mismatch on paper between Benavidez and Kyrone Davis, and the one motive the battle is occurring is that Uzcategui was faraway from the cardboard after his optimistic check for a banned substance.
Boxing followers would have most popular that a greater opponent than Kyrone for Benavidez to battle on Saturday. These would have been higher choices for Benavidez:
Carlos Gongora
Jesse Hart
Callum Smith
John Ryder
Daniel Jacobs
Edgar Berlanga
Caleb Truax
David Lemieux
These fighters doubtless would have by no means agreed to fill in as a substitute, particularly towards a gifted fighter like Benavidez.
