Rumours of a long-awaited clash between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and David Benavidez continue to flood the world of boxing.
Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson is the latest boxing figure to call for a bout between the pair to take place, with many feeling that it should have already happened.
Benavidez was the mandatory challenger to Canelo’s WBC super middleweight title for a period of time, but after negotiations came to nothing and an opportunity for ‘The Monster’ to face the Mexican icon fizzled out, he chose to move up to light heavyweight where he currently holds the WBC ‘interim’ title.
Canelo has dominated the 168lbs division in recent years, becoming undisputed champion in 2021 after defeating Caleb Plant. The 34-year-old still holds the WBC, WBA and WBO titles, having made the most recent defence of his title in September in a straight forward points win over Edgar Berlanga Jr.
As rumours of a showdown between Canelo and Benavidez seem to be ever-present, ‘Iron’ Mike spoke to ESNEWS where he gave the Mexican superstar and all other potential challengers at 168lbs ‘no chance’ of defeating ‘The Monster’.
“[Benavidez] is so underrated but so over-polarised here. Listen, I’d be afraid to fight him too if I was in that division. No one even has a chance against him, and I’m talking facts.”
On the fight having yet to materialise, Tyson accused Canelo of lacking heart for refusing to take the clash
“What’s wrong with Canelo? Is he afraid of losing? Doesn’t he want to give the fans the fight they want to see? Don’t you want to give the fans the fight they want to see?
If I were him, I would accept the fight with Benavidez and show the world that he is the best. But it seems he doesn’t have the courage to do it; It is a shame because he has a lot of talent but he lacks heart.”
With Canelo potentially set to face fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford next, and Benavidez pencilled in to challenge WBA ‘regular’ 175lb champion David Morrell in February, a fight between the long-term rivals seems further away than ever.
