David Benavidez wants to become just the third man to beat Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.
Though he is a former two-time super-middleweight champion – the division Canelo has dominated for some years – Benavidez has never had the chance to step through the ropes and test himself against the top dog.
The 27-year-old became so frustrated with the wait that he recently move up to light-heavyweight and is unlikely to drop back down. However, fans who want to see the match-up still hold out hope that Canelo will make the move to the 175 ranks, as he has done twice in the past, for it to happen.
Doing that would prove critics who say the Mexican is avoiding the fight wrong. One man who shares that opinion is Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather – the first man to beat Canelo – didn’t hold back when delivering his verdict on the fight to Fight Hub TV, saying ‘he’s ducking him.’
“If it was up to me, like, we keep on saying we want to see Benavidez. Canelo is a hell of a fighter, but in my personal opinion is that he’s ducking Benavidez and that’s just my personal opinion and I’m allowed to speak my mind, that’s just what it is. We want to see Benavidez – let’s make it happen!”
Canelo is expected to defend his unified super-middleweight world titles in May. Many fans would like him to accept the challenge from Terence Crawford, who would have to move up two divisions for the pleasure.
It was recently reported that William Scull – the man who hols the other belt in the division after Canelo vacated it – is in the running. Either way, the Benavidez fight is likely to marinate longer.
