Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya continue to have a fractured relationship.
The pair were extremely close when De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions guided the career of Alvarez for a number of years, but a bitter fallout has seen them become fierce enemies.
It came to a head earlier this year when Canelo took on Golden Boy’s Jaime Munguia, with harsh words exchanged between Alvarez and De La Hoya, and the two men having to be separated during a press conference row.
It seems that De La Hoya has no intentions of cooling the rivalry, after he discussed who he believes will be the first man to knock Canelo out.
The fighter he named is David Benavidez, the undefeated sensation who recently stepped up to light-heavyweight, and De La Hoya explained to Fight Hub TV why he would back him to stop Alvarez.
“I think he knocks him out. Benavidez is a monster. He throws literally an average of above 50 to 55 punches a round. Canelo and Charlo, in the first round they threw one punch. Combined.
I’m not talking to you as ‘oh I hate Canelo or oh I hate Benavidez,’ no I’m talking [as] a boxing expert. Those are the facts. That’s reality on paper.
Now, what happens in the ring when the bell rings? If Canelo lands that one bomb that he always throws, the right hand, I mean it’s sayonara. It’s game over for Benavidez. But I think Benavidez, because he’s young, strong, very versatile and throws a lot of punches, he’s gonna cause problems for Canelo.”
Canelo has famously never been put down across 66 contests, losing twice but both via points decisions.
Whether the fight will ever happen remains to be seen, with Benavidez now campaigning at 175lbs, and Alvarez having demanded a huge purse of over 150 million dollars to even consider stepping in the ring to face him.
Instead, a more likelier option for Alvarez could be a clash with fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, and the one way the fight could be made has now been revealed.
