Hall of Fame legend James Toney has voiced his opinion on the fight hardcore boxing fans have been calling for – Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs David Benavidez.
Benavidez is a former two-time super-middleweight champion and is currently the WBC mandatory for Canelo, who holds all the belts at 168.
Benavidez has long called for the clash but, despite pressure from the fans to make the fight, the four-weight world champion has been dismissive of it and says he’ll only fight the 27-year-old for $200m – seemingly pricing himself out of the contest.
Speaking to FightHub TV about the potential match-up, Toney accused Canelo of being ‘scared to death’ of facing his rival.
“Benavidez is a bad boy. He wants to fight, he’s trying to f**k you up. They are the type of fighters I like. Everyone knows how James Toney used to fight, we’re coming for the lights out.
Canelo has little nuts. That’s all it is, he’s scared to death, Canelo is scared.”
Toney went on to predict Benavidez would put Canelo to sleep whenever they fight.
“Canelo knows that if he fights Benavidez then he’s getting knocked out – he’s going to sleep! It doesn’t matter when he fights him, if he fights him right now he’ll steam roll him.”
Benavidez has grown tired of waiting for his title shot at 168 so will make his 175lb debut this weekend against former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. If he gets the victory he’ll have a decision to make – stay at light-heavyweight to face the winner of Artur Beterbiev-Dimity Bivol or move back down and try to force a fight with Canelo.
