Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez continues to ride high at the top of the sport, one of the few undisputed champions and the biggest current star in world boxing.
Just one year shy of two decades in the game, Canelo has won world honours in four weight classes and has fallen short just twice in a 65-fight campaign – once to Floyd Mayweather and again to Dmitry Bivol.
There’s a long list who want to face the Mexican because of the prizes – both titles and finances – that come with it, from mandatory challengers to Terence Crawford and even Jake Paul.
The man with the best case for the fight is David Benavidez. Benavidez is a former super-middleweight champion and the current WBC number one in the division. Despite being first in the queue for Canelo, the 27-year-old this weekend moved up to light-heavyweight to beat Oleksandr Gvozdyk and become interim champion in that division too.
In an interview before the fight with Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Benavidez let agression peak through his usually calm demeanour, saying he will ‘obliterate’ Canelo if he ever gets the chance.
“David Benavidez. El Monstruo. The Mexican Monster by knockout. By obliteration. I’m gonna beat the f**k out of him.”
Post Gvozdyk fight, he confirmed he would still be returning to 168 to continue the pursuit.
Elsewhere in the interview, Benavidez attributed his rival’s reputation as one of the best fighters in the world to a past failed doping test.
“I’m gonna throw another thing at you guys. When the greatest Canelo came out – the one that fought Triple G the first time – dude popped dirty for Clenbuterol bro. Why do you think the second fight didn’t happen? For me, that was the best Canelo I’ve ever seen, but that Canelo off of steroids.”
Whether these digs and threats will reach the undisputed 168 champion and get him fired up for a fight remains to be seen.
