The 27-year-old former WBC Super-middleweight champion doesn’t intend on waiting around for superstar Canelo to forge his own legacy in the sport.
Benavidez is scheduled to fight David Morrell in February, however, boxing fans are desperate for a fight against Mexican pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez.
29-0 Benavidez boasts one of the best knockout records in the sport, stopping 24 of his opponents to date and the general feeling on social media is that Canelo will do anything he can to avoid an inevitable clash between the two.
Although hardcore fans of the sport may find it hard to believe one of the best ever fighters, who has fought in multiple weight classes ranging from welterweight to Light heavyweight would be ‘afraid’ of fighting a big punching, younger world champion, there has been no previous fight negotiations.
David Benavidez chasing winner of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2
With Turki Alalshikh recently giving an update on the rematch of arguably the biggest fight in the sport and the Canelo fight looking increasingly more unlikely, Benavidez is looking towards undisputed status at Light Heavyweight.
Benavidez was a huge force at Super Middleweight, with his 6’2 frame he has always been more suited to Light Heavyweight and it was always going to be a case of if, not when he made the jump up in weight.
With Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol now holding superstar status, as well as all the belts being in Beterbiev’s possession, Benavidez has set his sights on becoming the new king at 175lbs.
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Benavidez said: “I’m ready to continue to be a dominant force in this weight class.
“Hopefully, I get the winner [of Beterbiev vs Bivol 2].”
What next for Canelo Alvarez?
Following his comfortable unanimous points decision victory over Edgar Berlanga, where many felt Berlanga’s power could test Canelo, it is uncertain what the WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight champion plans to do next.
There has been talk of Canelo stepping into the circus and fighting YouTuber turned professional boxer Jake Paul following his controversial victory over Mike Tyson recently, but that fight is surely a million miles away from even being seriously discussed.
Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom threw Chris Eubank Jr’s name into the mix when he confirmed discussions were underway for a fight between the two, despite footballing sensation Neymar acting as peacekeeper during a face-off with long-time foe and likely next opponent Conor Benn.
With only one of the two sole defeats on Canelo’s record being avengeable, the Dimitry Bivol rematch appears to be the fight Canelo has set his sights on and David Benavidez may be left waiting for the biggest payday of his career.