The list of big-time opponents for Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez is dwindling but David Benavidez remains there for an excellent and intriguing match-up.
The undisputed super-middleweight champion has been uncharacteristically dismissive of a fight with Benavidez, himself a two-time champion at the weight.
Despite being the number one challenger and WBC’s Interim Champion, the challenger seems no closer to his shot after Canelo put a sky-high price tag on it and said Benavidez was too big for the weight.
Still, there will come a time where the sanctioning body should either force the bout or strip the champion. If he does step through the ropes with the 27-year-old soon, two-weight world champion Bernard Hopkins backs him to retain all four belts.
Speaking to FightHype, ‘The Executioner’ said Canelo would ‘make it count’ for his legacy.
“I like the Benavidez fight. That’s the fight that makes sense and people would jump on. Yeah [I got Canelo]. I told you, Canelo’s really clearing out, getting ready for the Hall of Fame so he gotta make it count.”
Benavidez recently made his debut at light-heavyweight with a win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk, making him interim champion in that division too.
The WBC’s President, Mauricio Sulaiman, told Seconds Out that he will wait for the fighter to confirm what weight he would like to push for a mandatory title shot at. He also has the option to petition to keep both number one spots.
Post-fight, Benavidez confirmed he would be continuing to target the Canelo fight.
