David Benavidez is one of the most complete boxers who has made a splash in the light heavyweight division and is one of the strongest candidates to defeat Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev, two Russians who have dominated the 175-pound division. However, for the past couple of years, the Phoenix, Arizona native has been crying out to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and is willing to drop down to 168 pounds in order to face the Mexican in the super middleweight category.
So far, the so-called “Mexican Monster”, so called because of his roots and because he has the soul of Mexico, has enjoyed a vacation in the country and one of the points where he has made a stop is Teotihuacan, where he has posted a series of photos and videos in front of the Pyramid of the Sun. He is accompanied by his wife and son before returning to the gym to begin training for his fight against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez at Cruiserweight on Saturday, May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Will the fight between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez happen?
Boxing fans have also been begging to see a fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and David Benavidez. The matchup seemed inevitable when the Mexican-American dominated as the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim champion at 168 pounds, while the Guadalajara native reigned as the undisputed champion of the division. However, the fight never materialized, which triggered constant criticism of Canelo Alvarez, who was accused by many of avoiding the dangerous challenger.
Now, the person who decided to give his point of view was none other than Terence Crawford, Canelo’s nemesis, who stripped him of his four super middleweight world titles. In a conversation on the Joe Rogan podcast, Crawford offered a straightforward explanation as to why that fight never went beyond speculation. According to the American, the main factor was always one: the physical size of Benavidez. The American explained that although both could mark the same weight on the scale, the real difference appears when fight day arrives.
Canelo knows how big Benavidez is going to get in the ring. He is a tall, big fighter with an imposing physical presence, something that could be an important advantage in a high-level fight
The counterpoints to forget about the “Canelo – Benavidez” fight
After his defeat to Terence Crawford and having lost the tag of “undisputed super middleweight champion”, Saul Alvarez underwent surgery on his right elbow to heal damaged ligaments. The Mexican boxer is in the midst of a recovery process and his return to the ring could take place until September 2026. He still has one fight left with Turki Alalhashikh, Canelo’s promoter and head of Riyah Seasons. However, the quality, strength, fitness and health of the Mexican is on the decline.
On the other hand, David Benavidez, at 30 years of age, is at his peak as a boxer. He has been a super middleweight champion, his height, punching power and reach are lethal weapons against anyone who stands in front of him in the ring. Therefore, if this fight did not happen in 2023, with three more years of age, this fight seems increasingly distant and everything points to the fight between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez may never happen.
Terence Crawford highlights and respects Canelo Alvarez’s career
For the retired boxer, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has built an impressive track record against bigger opponents for much of his career. At just under 1.70 meters tall, Canelo has competed in higher divisions, even at 175 pounds, where many of his opponents had clear physical advantages. “Canelo is not a big guy, but he has fought against big opponents all his career and has beaten them thanks to his skill,” explained Crawford.