David Benavidez Accuses Canelo Alvarez of Fear, Demands a Fight
David Benavidez, the light heavyweight champion, is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, preparing for his upcoming title defense against Anthony Yarde. With a potential unification bout against Dmitry Bivol on the horizon, Benavidez is in peak physical condition and confident in his abilities. However, he remains frustrated due to the lack of a highly anticipated super fight against Canelo Alvarez.
Benavidez believes Canelo's reluctance to face him stems from fear. He spent months as the mandatory challenger to Canelo's super middleweight titles, but instead of a showdown, Canelo opted to fight other opponents like Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga, and William Scull before taking on Terence Crawford. This decision has left Benavidez feeling disrespected and motivated to forge his own legacy by moving up a division.
During an interview, Benavidez expressed his doubts about Canelo's future in the sport. He stated that Canelo is the only person who fears him and questioned the value of Canelo's recent fight against Crawford. Benavidez believes Canelo should step up and fight the opponents fans want to see, especially if he has no plans to retire.
'To be honest, nobody wanted to see him fight Crawford,' Benavidez said. 'People wanted to see him fight Bivol again or me.' Benavidez challenges Canelo to choose between him, Bivol, or Artur Beterbiev, suggesting that any other opponent would be a mockery.
Canelo's recent comeback and potential future plans remain uncertain. After his fight with Crawford, he underwent elbow surgery, keeping him out of the gym for weeks. Fans can expect a comeback around Cinco de Mayo 2026 at the earliest. Benavidez and others continue to question Canelo's next move, with a potential rematch against Crawford being a topic of discussion.
The possibility of a Canelo-Benavidez fight remains a topic of speculation. Canelo had previously mentioned retiring at age 37, and with two years left, the question arises: will he risk a potential loss to a top contender or leave the sport on a winning note against a less formidable opponent? The boxing world awaits Canelo's decision, eager to see if the highly anticipated Benavidez bout will finally become a reality.
