Fans wait patiently to see Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez and David Benavidez step through the ropes together. If they do, Oscar De La Hoya sees a clear winner.
De La Hoya promoted Canelo for some years, helping build him into being boxing’s biggest superstar before a bitter split. The pair now regularly clash via the media, but when predicting the long-awaited clash against Benavidez the fighter turned promoter insists he has no bias.
Benavidez is a two-time super-middleweight world champion but recently moved up to light-heavyweight after growing tired of chasing Canelo with no joy. Whether he moves back down for the fight or Canelo fancies another move up, fans agree that it must take place.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, De La Hoya said the 27-year-old will win ‘easy’ when it happens.
“I think Benavidez will win and will win easy.
He has the better arsenal, he has the better footwork, the jab is incredible and just the fact that he’s young. You really have to look at that, it’s like De La Hoya-Chavez will be Benavidez-Canelo, I actually think they’ll be the same age and Benavidez is the bigger guy.
Look, I’m not knocking Canelo. I’m the one who got him a $365million contract, why would I be knocking him, it’s just ridiculous. When I say something about Canelo it’s criticising something inside the ring because I can, I’m a fighter myself and I can critique and I have my opinion just as a fighter. I think Canelo has done great for the sport, obviously we built him but he has done amazing, is still doing amazing but is he slowing down? Naturally, he’s getting older.”
Following a routine points win to defend his unified belts at 168, Canelo is now in the market for his next opponent. It won’t be Benavidez for now given he is set to face David Morrell at 175 in February with his sights set on the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch should it happen.
