The boxing world is abuzz with anticipation as David Benavidez, a rising star in the sport, sets his sights on a potential mega fight. But here's where it gets controversial... Benavidez, a three-division world champion contender, has his eyes on a legendary opponent, Canelo Alvarez.
In a recent video, Benavidez, the WBC light-heavyweight champion, reminded Turki Alalshikh, a prominent figure in boxing, of a previous conversation about his desire to face Canelo. "Remember you told me you were going to give me Canelo?" he asked.
Alalshikh, a boxing powerbroker, acknowledged the challenge, but also expressed the difficulty of making it happen. "There is something we can do and there is something we cannot do." he said. "I want to see this fight, but maybe when [Canelo’s] 40 [years old]. We will talk with him."
While the prospect of a Benavidez-Canelo showdown is tantalizing, Benavidez must first focus on his upcoming cruiserweight title challenge against Gilberto Ramirez. This fight, scheduled for May 2, will be a headline event on a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Benavidez's legacy at 168lbs has been somewhat overshadowed by the elusive Canelo matchup. During that time, Canelo established himself as the undisputed super-middleweight champion, but was criticized for avoiding Benavidez, his mandatory challenger, while taking on less challenging opponents.
However, Canelo's reign as the king of his division is now in question. In September, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford, who has since retired. Meanwhile, Canelo is preparing for a potential world title shot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this September.
If Canelo emerges victorious, Benavidez has indicated his continued interest in facing him, even after moving up to 200lbs.
So, will we see this highly anticipated matchup? Only time will tell. But for now, Benavidez's focus remains on his upcoming title challenge.
What do you think? Is the Canelo dream still alive for Benavidez, or should he set his sights on other opponents? Share your thoughts in the comments!
