Former undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez will be stepping into the ring on May 2nd to face IBF title holder William Scull, but it seems like he can’t escape the looming question about his refusal to fight David Benavidez. Despite being considered one of the greatest fighters of this generation, the 34-year-old Mexican boxer still has a chip on his shoulder, as the boxing community continues to question his decision to not face Benavidez.
For those unaware, David Benavidez is an up and coming super-middleweight boxer who holds an impressive record of 22 wins and 0 losses. He also happens to be the former WBC super-middleweight champion, a title that Canelo once held as well. Many saw Benavidez as the rightful opponent for Alvarez to face, as it would have been a clash between two of the most talented fighters in the division. However, Canelo and his team chose to go in a different direction, leaving many fans and experts scratching their heads.
It all started when Canelo vacated his WBC title in 2019, just a year after winning it from Rocky Fielding. He cited issues with the WBC and their mandatory challenger, Avni Yildirim, as the reason for his decision. This opened the door for David Benavidez to reclaim his title, but he was stripped of it due to a failed drug test. This led to the WBC creating a new title, the “franchise” belt, and awarding it to Canelo, effectively making him the undisputed champion in the eyes of the WBC. Many saw this move as a way to prevent a potential matchup between Canelo and Benavidez, as the “franchise” title allows the holder to avoid mandatory challenger obligations.
Fast forward to 2021, and the situation remains the same. Canelo is still the WBC “franchise” champion, while David Benavidez is still determined to get his shot at the Mexican superstar. Benavidez and his team have been very vocal about their desire to face Canelo, and they have not been shy about expressing their disappointment in the champion’s decision to not fight him.
In a recent interview, Benavidez’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, expressed his frustration with Canelo’s avoidance of Benavidez, saying, “We’re calling out the franchise champion for the last two years, and he doesn’t want to fight us. He’s avoiding us, and we don’t know why. We don’t understand why. He should be a man and step up and fight us.”
Even David Benavidez himself has made it clear that he wants to fight Canelo, stating in an interview, “I would like to fight Canelo. I think that would be a great fight, two Mexican warriors, two guys that could fight.” He also added, “I don’t know why he doesn’t want to fight me, but I’m here, and I’m ready to fight.”
The frustration and disappointment from the Benavidez camp are understandable. David Benavidez is a young, hungry fighter who has proven himself in the ring and deserves a shot at the top of the division. However, Canelo seems to be focused on other opponents, with his upcoming fight against William Scull being his fourth consecutive fight against a British opponent.
Many boxing fans and experts have also criticized Canelo for not taking on tougher challenges like Benavidez. Despite his undeniable talent and impressive resume, some argue that Canelo has not faced top competition in his weight class. This has led to questions about whether Canelo is avoiding certain opponents to protect his legacy.
With all the criticism and backlash Canelo has received in regards to the David Benavidez situation, it’s no surprise that calls are mounting for him to face the young contender. Some are even going as far as accusing Canelo of ducking Benavidez, a term used in boxing when a fighter avoids a certain opponent.
With all this talk surrounding the Benavidez situation, it’s clear that the pressure is mounting on Canelo to make a decision. While he may be focused on his upcoming fight against Scull, he can’t ignore the growing voice of the boxing community calling for
