For years, David Benavidez has been in hot pursuit of a showdown with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, but to no avail. Now, after arguably replacing Canelo in the pound-for-pound rankings, the tables have turned and Benavidez has announced his own stipulation in order for him to take on Alvarez.
At super-middleweight, David Benavidez held the WBC Interim title and was Canelo’s mandatory challenger for over two years, but the champion refused to face him, eventually resulting in Benavidez moving up to light-heavyweight.
‘The Mexican Monster’ has since been installed as the full WBC world champion at 175lbs, but is now set to move up once again to cruiserweight, bidding for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified WBO and WBA titles in the 200lb division.
As a result, it seems as though the chances of him facing 35-year-old Canelo are slim, but in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, Benavidez said that he would still be willing to face his foe in the light-heavyweight division.
“When I am at cruiserweight, I don’t want to go up too heavy and I don’t want to come in too heavy either, because I still want to go down to 175lbs.
“If the fight happens with Canelo, it is going to be at 175lbs, it is not going to be at super-middleweight. That is even if it does happen.
“That is what I am saying, I want to stay light. I want to be able to go up and down easy, I don’t want to gain too much muscle and then not be able to go down to 175lbs.
“My main goal is to be one of the best reigning champions at light-heavyweight in history.”
With a 25-pound weight jump in store, compared to the seven-pound difference between super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, it will be intriguing to see how Benavidez looks at cruiserweight and whether a return to light-heavyweight is realistic thereafter.
Ramirez-Benavidez takes place on Cinco De Mayo weekend on Saturday, May 2, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be available to watch live on Amazon Prime Video PPV. Canelo, meanwhile, is set to return in September, most likely in the super-middleweight ranks.
