Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has reportedly knocked back a $70m plus offer to face a fierce rival.
Canelo is the current unified super-middleweight champion and will have the chance to become two-time undisputed when he next steps into the ring against IBF champion William Scull on May 3 in Saudi Arabia.
However, the man who the majority of the fans really want to see him face is former 168lbs champion and current WBC light-heavyweight champion, David Benavidez.
The unbeaten ‘Mexican Monster’, who has an 80% knockout ratio, grew frustrated at waiting for his shot at the 34-year-old so moved up in weight.
Speaking as to why he has been so reluctant to take him on, Canelo says Benavidez is too ‘disrespectful’ to earn such a large payday.
“You know, I don’t really know how to answer this question, but I think the way he talks, he thinks he’s Superman, right? And he is very disrespectful—not just with me, with everybody.
And he’s accomplished nothing. He’s not even a champion, and he’s not even in my weight class already. And you know, it’s a lot of things there that don’t make sense. And plus, at this point in my career, I can do whatever I want. And you guys can’t take anything away from my career, from my legacy, from anything. Because, you know, if you see my résumé, I fought everybody out there—all the elite fighters out there.”
Benavidez has since revealed to ALL THE SMOKE that Canelo had been offered a guaranteed $70m before pay-per-views earnings to face him.
“I knew one day people were gonna ask for that fight and I feel like it’s amazing how much attention this fight is getting, and I think even winning more right now the more he’s putting it off.
They offered him $70 million to fight me that’s before pay-per-view, you guys can call Al Haymon and ask him that, imagine after pay-per-view.”
After Scull it is expected that Canelo will take on four-weight world champion Terence Crawford in Las Vegas this September, whilst Benavidez will have his eyes set on unifying the 175lb division.
