Via Dan Ambrose: Jose Benavidez Sr. claims that Canelo Alvarez is “scared” of David Benavidez. He believes he won’t be returning to super-middleweight to defend his WBC title after advancing to cruiser in May.
Jose Sr. don’t understand WHY Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) isn’t ready to defend No.1 and No.2 at 168th place after becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion last November .
#1 WBC Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) will face #2 David Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) in a fight ordered by the World Boxing Council for the interim WBC super middleweight title . Competition Benavidez vs. Lemieux will take place in the first quarter of 2022 on PPV.
If Canelo returns to the 168-lb division, he will have to defend against winner Benavidez-Lemieux.
If Canelo chooses not to return to super-middleweight or skip the winner, he will lose his WBC title and winner Benavidez-Lemiux will be the new champion.
Jose Benavidez thinks Canelo will NOT return to 168
It will be too hard for Canelo to get back to 168-lb after he explodes into cruiser combat next May, and I don’t think he’s crazy enough to try.
We’ll see Canelo ascend to the cruiser rank and tear the WBC belt from paper champion Ilunga Makabu on May 7.
From there, Canelo will drop a weight class down to 175 and begin chasing the champions in that weight class.
My guess is that Canelo will first target 175-lb WBA champion Dmitry Bivol, followed by WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. and finally IBF/WBC champion Artur Beterbiev if he remains the champion by the time the Mexican star wants to face him.
“If you [Canelo] thought it was an easy fight to face David [Benavidez], if David hasn’t hit any achievements yet, if David hasn’t played any champions yet, I think it’s going to be an easy payday for [Alvarez],” said Jose Benavidez Sr. talk to YSM Sports Media in response to Canelo questioning what Benavidez has given him and asking what champions he has beaten.
“Friend [Canelo] should shut up everyone and take those challenges because when you are at that level you will face a lot of challenges. There are a lot of new boys and talented, strong boys.
“So I don’t think he’s going back to 168,“Jose Sr. talk about Canelo. “I think he will be at 175 or do other things, but he knows David Benavidez at 168. If he [Canelo] Come, he will wait for him.
“We’re not worried about him right now. Next, we’ll be fighting David Lemieux, and we’re focused on what we’re doing. I don’t care what Canelo does. Hopefully he’ll drop all that, and we chase them and try to get all those belts and do our thing.
“Surname [Team Canelo] can do whatever they want to do. If they want to fight, fine. If not, we will have a tough test next year.
“David Benavidez is going up against David Lemieux because it’s a big battle, and he’s a dangerous fighter, and we have to focus on Lemieux. We have to focus on him and train hard for that game,” said Jose Sr.
I think Canelo will probably hold the 168-lb title hostage for as long as possible before the sanctioning agency takes him away when it becomes clear that he will not be returning to the league.
It is in Canelo’s best interest to keep his super-middleweight belt, even if he has no intention of returning to the league as it looks like he’s already placed his name in four places in the 168th-ranked ranking. lb.
Keeping the belt tight at super middle class will give Canelo more foresight.
Canelo vs C champions at 168 years old
I wouldn’t say ALL the champions Canelo beat at 168 are old, but Billy Joe Saunders is old. The other champions Canelo beat at super-middleweight were nothing special, and the boxers were all belt holders.
“Whatever Canelo wants to do. No, I don’t like it. He [Canelo] selected all these fighters [at 168] Jose Benavidez said when asked about Canelo beating four champions in the super-middleweight division to become the undisputed champion in 2021.
“He fought all the champions who were old and not at their peak. Good. They made a good move. They have all their belts, but if you’re #1 and you’re the champion, and you say you’re king at 168, you should be fighting #1, #2 and #3, right?
“Satisfied [David Benavidez] number 1, and he doesn’t want to fight. I do not understand. Fans can tell what’s going on there because I can’t. He [Canelo] should fight number 1 and number 2, you know? He should fight David because he’s the best of the best, so why not take these challenges?
“I know 100% that it is because what is the explanation for that? You know? Why are they? [Team Canelo] battle up to the class of cruisers and not fighting at 168? Do you think it’s a better fight fighting the Africans than fighting David? ” Jose Sr. said on Canelo.
There is only ONE explanation for why Canelo fought at cruiser instead of 168 against David Benavidez.
Canelo is likely afraid of losing to Benavidez, so he was chosen to chase the soft target at WBC lightweight champion Ilunga Makabu because he can definitely beat that guy without any difficulty.
Team Canelo is afraid of Benavidez
Jose Sr. believes that Canelo and his management are fleeing Benavidez by retreating to cruiser class to escape defeat.
It was clear that Canelo and his coach/manager Eddy Reynoso didn’t want any smoke from Benavidez, as they headed North for cruiser class to take on WBC champion Ilunga Makabu .
Few boxing fans believe Canelo will return to the 168-lb as he will need to defend against Benavidez if he does. He will likely face ‘regular’ WBA champion David Morrell Jr in a sanctioning body move to reduce the number of titles.
“I mean, it was a big fight against David. No one knows the African boy [Ilunga Makabu]. Would I enjoy watching that fight? Is not. There were a lot of people who didn’t want to watch that fight.
“So it doesn’t bring anything to the table. They say David [Benavidez] doesn’t bring anything to the table, so what does that tell you? They’re running and they’re scared to fight David Benavidez.
“It was a dangerous war for them [Canelo], and they don’t want to take on that challenge. Those are the excuses for the bull. Like I said, if they’re not sure they can beat David, why not come payday and buy that game and make a lot of money? Because it will sell a lot ticket.
“Of course, we will take it immediately. There’s nothing to worry about it. I’m not here to make money. Satisfied [David Benavidez] here to make history and that fight can get really easy. It can be done immediately in 10 to 15 minutes.
“Give [WBC super middleweight] temporary,” said Jose Benavidez Sr. told about the title that will be in the fight between David Benavidez and Lemieux.
“For a lot of people who don’t know, it’s more like a second champion because when the real champion [Canelo] is moving forward and we don’t know if he will return. Who is taking his place?
“Now if the champion [Canelo] return, that must be required. However, I don’t think that will happen,“Jose made it clear when he doubted Canelo would return to 168th to reclaim his WBC super middleweight belt.
Canelo knew he would have to defend against the dangerous mandator David Benavidez, a nightmare for him.
This writer agrees with Jose Sr. about Canelo’s failure to return to the 168-lb division due to his being asked to defend against Benavidez.
Let’s face it; Canelo has had it easy for the past three years, beating weak 168 lb champions at Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders, Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding.
None of those champions had any talent, so it was easy for Canelo to beat them.
You can pick half a dozen contenders out of 168 who will beat those champions. These fighters defeated four champions that Canelo beat in the super-middleweight category:
- David Benavidez
- Gabe Rosado
- Edgar Berlanga
- Aslambek Idigov
- Lerrone Richards
- Aidos Yerbossynuly
- David Morrell Jr.
- Erik Bazinyan
David Morrell Jr. a future option for Benavidez
Jose Benavidez Sr. said he would be interested in a fight between David and WBA super-middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. (6-0.5 KOs) in the future.
For now, the match makes no sense as Benavidez has no title in hand, but once he wins the 168-lb WBC belt, the unification matchup against Morrell will have worldwide significance.
“Yes for sure. It was a great fight and one that would bring in a lot of boxing fans, but it could even be a pay-per-view fight or two,” said Benavidez Sr. about David’s game against the WBA ‘regular champion’ 168-lb David Morrell Jr.
“If it happens now, I think it will be a great battle,” said Jose Sr.’s desire to book a showdown between Benavidez and Morrell Jr.
The WBC has granted Saul Alvarez, special permission to challenge the WBC champion in Cruiserweight in 2022. For that reason, the Board of Governors approved the WBC interim championship in the division that will contested by #1 David Benavidez and #2 David Lemieux. pic.twitter.com/qzyMZZugOZ
– World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) December 16, 2021
