For more than 5 years, David Benavidez remained at the top of the super middleweight division. In 2017, at just 20 years of age, he became the youngest 168lbs world champion after defeating Ronald Gavril. However, even after ruling the division, he still couldn’t get the match against the king – Canelo Alvarez, something he hoped he would. As a result, the undisputed status always eluded him, forcing him to move up to 175 lbs for better fortunes.
Even when it looked like the fight would happen, the Guadalajara native’s absurd demand of $150 million prevented it from happening. Fans and experts from all around the world have been sharing their opinions on why the fight never happened. Now, a young pound-for-pound champion has given his two cents about the fight. What did he say?
David Benavidez, an altogether different animal, says Bam Rodriguez
During an interview, the WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez spoke about how David Benavidez has been an amazing fighter. ‘Bam’ has been climbing the pound-for-pound rankings for a while now and considers the Mexican Monster a legitimate threat to Canelo Alvarez. “He’s(David Benavized) is a good fighter. I feel like Canelo is ducking him,” stated Bam Rodriguez boldly.
WATCH: Bam Rodriguez Calls Out Canelo For Ducking David Benavidez
Add Bam Rodriguez to the chorus of people in boxing that wants Canelo Alvarez to fight David Benavidez. #BrunchBoxing #BenavidezMorrell pic.twitter.com/5MgfqxqFf3
— Brunch Boxing (@BrunchBoxing) January 28, 2025
According to the 25-year-old, the current WBC interim light heavyweight champion has all the skills needed to be a complete package and a threat to Canelo Alvarez. “He has the skill too. He has the skill, power, speed. I feel like he’s the whole package,” stated Bam, claiming that the Mexican Monster might be a challenge that Canelo would best like to avoid.
Given the fact that Benavidez has been an unstoppable force at 168 lbs and even at 175 lbs now, Canelo might really want to avoid him at this stage of his career. A loss at this point might hurt his marketability and might even hurt his future paydays.
However, things are not so simple. According to the Guadalajara native, rejecting Benavidez’s clash was not about money but rather about the disrespect that Benavidez showed him.
Canelo Alvarez demands respect
Last week, the former undisputed 168 lbs champion sat down with Mike Coppinger on The Ring Podcast and referred to the comment Benavidez and his father made about him last year. Jose Sr., a retired professional boxer himself, came out last year and attacked Canelo over rejecting a fight against his son. “The most dangerous fighter, the most exciting fighter doesn’t want to face David Benavidez. He knows, and you know, I know — everyone knows, Canelo’s career is coming to an end. He’s not the Canelo who used to break arms and knock people out. He knows David can beat him and doesn’t want to lose to him,” declared Jose Sr.
That statement really backfired as during the interview, Alvarez stated that he always wants to fight the best. However, the way the father-son duo called him out disrespectfully, he had no reason to give them the fight. Because “when somebody approach you like that and call you out like that, you don’t need to give them money. So, like I say, I can do whatever I want now and just I don’t like the way he approaches for taking the fight,” Canelo Alvarez explained bluntly.
However, the Guadalajara native did not completely rule out the fight either. He claimed that he might change his decision in the future. “But like I say, you never know too. Maybe someday I wake up and I say I want to this that guy,” admitted Canelo.
However, given everything that is going on in the duo’s career, this Mexican heritage fight does not seem like happening. Whether Canelo Alvarez is avoiding David Benavidez or was just offended by Jose Sr.’s comments, we might never know. However, it has really starved the fans of a match that every boxing lover wants to see. Let us know your thoughts down below.
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