Via Sean Jones: David Benavidez will face Canelo Alvarez if he beats Jermall Charlo or Caleb Plant, Eddie Hearn said.
He feels that Benavidez (26-0.23 KOs) needs to win a title against undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo by beating either of them.
Benavidez is the WBC interim 168-lb champion, and Canelo’s mandatory title with that organization isn’t enough. Benavidez still needs to earn the match against Canelo, though he did more than enough to win by becoming the WBC interim and mandatory champion.
What Hearn is saying sounds like a textbook on how warriors can avoid facing the best guys. In other sports, when you win a playoff spot or an opportunity at the Super Bowl, you’re not required to go back and start the opportunity-earning process all over again. You have earned it.
But with Hearn’s way of talking, it doesn’t make sense for Benavidez to have Canelo’s WBC title.
I don’t believe Canelo will fight Benavidez even if he defeats both Charlo and Plant because then he would probably object to his not wanting to fight other Mexican boxers as an excuse to avoid he.
“Great warriors like Benavidez. Benavidez will now fight [Jose] Uzcategui, a good fighter, a strong fighter, but keep fighting. You’re screaming for Canelo Alvarez. You must make a statement. You have to get the fans to say, ‘Canelo, you have to get [the Benavidez fight,’” said Eddie Hearn to Fight Hub TV.
“You know that when a fighter is big enough and when Canelo Alvarez feels that fighter deserves that opportunity, he will give them that opportunity.
“I don’t blame Benavidez because I believe Benavidez wants to be in big fights, but it’s embarrassing. When did Benavidez last fight? Now they’re announcing a fight [with Jose Uzcategui] for January or February. Why?
“Caleb Plant, I saw him have a good win. Charlo, who did Charlo fight? Benavidez is a great fighter. You are forced to fight. When Canelo Alvarez has achieved all that he has achieved, what is the motivation to fight David Benavidez?
“Do not misunderstand me. He is a good fighter. He [Canelo] want to challenge myself. Bivol rematch. Move to light heavyweight. He will fight Benavidez, I’m sure. That is not my decision. That’s Eddy Reynoso. He is not afraid of David Benavidez.
“All he wants is for these guys to get the shot and let the world call for a big fight. If Benavidez goes and defeats [Jermall] Charlo likes to go and fight, Canelo will fight him in no time. But he will fight Uzcategui in January or February.
“I think they are hurting Benavidez’s career because he’s a great fighter because I know he wants to have great fights. You have two people in the same camp, Plant and Benavidez. It was a big war. Make the fight. I don’t get it,” Hearn said.
