By Craig Daly: Canelo Alvarez abruptly shut down the post-fight press conference last Saturday night following his win over Gennadiy Golovkin when asked whether he’ll be fighting David Benavidez in the future.
With the answer Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) gave to the media, he made it clear that he prefers not to fight unbeaten WBC interim super middleweight champion David Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs).
Fans are beginning to see Canelo as a cherry-picker because he’s arguably avoiding risky opponents like Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade, and Jermall Charlo.
While it’s good that Canelo fought Dmitry Bivol last May, you have to remember that fight was viewed as an easy sure-thing win for the Mexican star going into the match.
Bivol had looked poor in a recent narrow decision win over Craig Richards. Hence, he was selected by Canelo to fight for his WBA 175-lb title.
It’s a fight that the fans want to see, and the 25-year-old Benavidez is still in his prime & not old like 40-year-old Golovkin.
Many boxing fans felt that Canelo’s dull trilogy fight against an old & shot-looking Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) was virtually unwatchable and not worth the $85 or $65 price.
“I don’t know. Anything can happen. Always when I say this, you show the video and put whatever you want,” said Canelo Alvarez when asked if we could see a fight between him and David Benavidez in the future.
“When I say I don’t want to fight Mexicans is because I represent Mexico, and that’s why. But I don’t care. I fight anybody, and I fight my entire life, anybody.
What do you think I don’t fight one Mexico, Benavidez? Look, I hear his dad talking a lot of s***. Look at what he’s accomplished, nothing. One single champion, Anthony Dirrell. Please, don’t disrespect myself. Please, guys,” said Canelo.
“No more questions because I’m a little mad, and I’m tired,” said Canelo. “They can do whatever they want. I’m not bothered who they fight. I don’t f**** care,” said Canelo when asked if Benavidez and fighters like Bivol should fight amongst themselves.
It’s unclear why this simple question about Benavidez would make Canelo so angry.
It seemed a little odd because you argue that if Canelo was asked about fighting the likes of Caleb Plant, Avni Yildirim, or Billy Joe Saunders, you wouldn’t get the same angry reaction.
“I feel like if he’s not going to fight anymore Mexicans, then what is going on?” said David Benavidez to Fighthype, talking about Canelo not wanting to fight Mexicans anymore.
“I have the WBC interim belt. There are rankings for a reason. Canelo is going figure it out, and the WBC is going to figure it out. I’ve earned my spot repeatedly.
“I’ve won two title eliminators, and I’ve won an interim title belt. It’s not my fault that these guys don’t want to fight me. If it’s not Canelo giving me the opportunity, it’s frustrating.
“Time is on my side because I’m 26. Charlo is in his 30s. Caleb Plant is in his 30s, and Canelo is in his 30s. The only one that is young is Morrell. I want a big fight.
“I feel the walls are closing in for all of these fighters. He [Canelo] probably said that because if Zurdo Ramirez beats Bivol, ‘I’m not fighting anymore Mexicans.’
“Why not get the biggest paycheck possible? Everyone is saying we’re looking for the paycheck. The one that is getting the real paycheck is Canelo. I don’t want to be the type of person that is complaining. ‘Oh, he wants a handout.’ I don’t want a handout. I want to earn my way to Canelo.
“How am I going to do that if no one wants to fight me? It’s a hard situation, but like I said, the walls are closing in for all of these fighters. We’re going to have to fight eventually,” said Benavidez.
