For a number of years the undisputed super-middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has efficiently prevented his WBC necessary challenger, and as we strategy the month of March, the query is will Canelo lastly step up and battle David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) or will he proceed to cruise within the duck lane?
Alvarez is able to step again contained in the squared circle as he has chosen a date, however as of now he doesn’t have an opponent. Boxing followers, boxing pundits, and boxing legends are hopeful with regard to a Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez match on Could 4th, however greater than possible that’s a case of wishful considering.
David Benavidez is a former two-time WBC super-middleweight world champion. He gained the title on two separate events within the ring, however sadly he misplaced the title on two separate events in self-destructive style.
The primary time he was stripped of the title was in September 2018 as a result of a optimistic check for cocaine, and two years later he was stripped once more for coming right into a battle and weighing over the super-middleweight restrict.
After his second self-inflicted disappointment, Benavidez determined to regroup and hop on the highway to redemption. He posted an eleventh spherical TKO victory over Ronald Ellis in March 2021, after which eight months later he scored a seventh spherical TKO victory over Kyrone Davis.
In Could 2022 David Benavidez destroyed David Lemieux as he scored a third spherical TKO victory and gained the vacant WBC Interim super-middleweight title. With the win, many assumed Benavidez was Canelo’s WBC necessary, however the WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman didn’t fairly see it that approach.
In November 2022 Sulaiman introduced that the winner of the bout between David Benavidez and former IBF super-middleweight champion Caleb Plant could be the necessary challenger for Canelo Alvarez. Benavidez would go on to win the competition by means of unanimous choice, however sadly Mauricio Sulaiman determined to maneuver the objective publish.
The WBC president did a remix and acknowledged the winner of the David Benavidez vs Demetrius Andrade bout could be the necessary for Canelo Alvarez. In November 2023 Benavidez stopped Andrade within the sixth spherical, however sadly Mauricio Sulaiman didn’t order the battle between Canelo and Benavidez.
Whereas Benavidez was taking part in a number of title eliminator bouts, Canelo was on cruise management within the duck lane. As a substitute of preventing his necessary, Canelo fought a declining 40-year-old Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, John Ryder, a person who already had 5 losses, and the 154-pound undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.
Hardcore Canelo followers attempt to justify their hero’s actions of avoiding his necessary by questioning the credibility of Benavidez. Merely put, if David Benavidez doesn’t deserve a shot on the undisputed 168-pound crown, what made John Ryder and Jermell Charlo certified to obtain the chance?
Actuality is starting to settle in as a few of the non-believers are beginning to imagine with regard to Canelo Alvarez purposely avoiding David Benavidez. The devoted Canelo supporters nonetheless imagine their favourite fighter shouldn’t be ducking, however his subsequent selection of opponent might make the hypothesis legitimate.
Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) is operating out of opposition to face, and if he decides to battle Jermall Charlo on Could 4th, we are able to formally name Alvarez a duck. Jermall Charlo is an effective fighter, however as a result of his battle with psychological well being points and his inactivity, he’s not the most effective candidate to battle Canelo proper now.
If Canelo selects anybody exterior of David Benavidez, then one ought to ask what’s the usage of being a compulsory challenger should you’re by no means going to obtain the chance to face the champion? It’s actually disgraceful how the WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has allowed this travesty to play out.
Nevertheless, Sulaiman has an opportunity to redeem himself. Again in July 2023 as a visitor on Broadway Joel’s present, Mauricio Sulaiman lastly put a date on ordering the potential conflict between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez.
“Benavidez defeated Plant in March of this 12 months, so his date for necessary place is March 2024,” Sulaiman mentioned.
Whereas Canelo has been making excuses because it pertains to preventing Benavidez, his bestie Mauricio Sulaiman has been repeatedly making false statements. Now that the month of March is roughly per week away, Sulaiman has been granted one other alternative to lastly hold his phrase by ordering the battle between Canelo and Benavidez.
Canelo Alvarez has put collectively a legendary profession, however this chapter with David Benavidez is barely tarnishing his legacy. It’s one factor to keep away from a boxer for a few years, however you’re on one other stage whenever you purposely keep away from your necessary for a number of years.
Alvarez isn’t afraid of Benavidez, however he is aware of that Benavidez is the most important risk to his throne. So these days, as we’re all impatiently ready for an announcement, all of us marvel will Canelo step up and provides us followers the matchup we wish, or will he proceed to duck, and choose a ripe cherry decide?
