Via Sean Jones: Mike Tyson says he wants Canelo Alvarez to fight David Benavidez now before he retires from the sport. Tyson feels that Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) is on his way to retirement and will soon retire.
Tyson admires the talent of undefeated, highly ranked super-middleweight contender Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs), whom he calls “The Beast.”
Benavidez is the man Tyson wants Canelo to fight the most, and he feels it would be a real shame if he chooses not to fight him before retiring from the sport.
It’s hard for Tyson to see why Canelo didn’t fight Benavidez because he hasn’t avoided opposition during his career. Tyson was not an opportunist who would choose his opponent during the peak of his career.
Canelo’s heavy focus on golf and his opposing picks over the past four years suggests he’s slowly retiring.
He hasn’t had a serious game in four years since his rematch with Gennady Golovkin in 2018.
Tyson wants Canelo to fight Benavidez
“You will have to go with Canelo, but there is still a lot to come, but Canelo is almost on his way out,” speak Mike Tyson. “David Benavidez, he is going to be a great fighter.
“There are many great warriors out there. There are some young men out there. David Benavidez. I call him ‘The Beast.’ He’s tough. I would love to see Canelo fight him.
“If it doesn’t happen, it’s a shame to be asked if he thinks the Canelo vs Benavidez fight will happen,” Tyson said.
The fight between Canelo and Benavidez didn’t happen, and it should have been for the past five years.
Canelo had the opportunity to fight Benavidez while he held the 168-lb WBC belt, but instead chose to face second-place champion WBA Fielding. What does that tell you?
Robert Garcia says Canelo should make Benavidez wait
“Bivol, GGG because he’ll have all four,” coach Robert Garcia told ESNEWS when asked if Canelo should play Bivol and Golovkin first in 2022 or Jermall Charlo and David Benavidez.
“If he goes to see Charlo and Benavidez who are younger now, and they are still there, he could lose that GGG match. But if he plays against GGG this year, next year, he can come back and do the same thing with Charlo and Benavidez,” said Garcia.
The problem with Canelo not facing Charlo and Benavidez in 2022 is that he could lose to Dmitry Bivol or Gennadiy Golovkin in 2022.
From watching Canelo’s recent matches, we see that his work rate has dropped, and that was not intentional on his part. He’s getting older, and he can’t throw as many shots anymore.
Even if Canelo defeats Bivol and Golovkin in 2022, the fights will be so difficult for him that he will choose not to fight Benavidez in 2023, knowing he will likely lose.
Canelo will probably still fight Charlo in 2023 as he is a heavily flawed fighter that he will beat. Charlo looked as if he was dying rapidly like a boxer.
“They are young. Benavidez is like 24. Charlo is like 26 or 27, somewhere around that,” Robert said of 25-year-old Benavidez and 31-year-old Jermall.
“So those guys are young and can wait a year or two if Canelo wants to. Canelo, he’s a smart businessman. That’s what he’s at right now. He’s doing very, very smart business.
“If he picks Charlo and Benavidez, GGG might be too old by the time they play him. GGG might lose. Canelo needs to hit a third fight with GGG,” said Garcia.
Garcia’s comment about Canelo being a “smart businessman” can be interpreted as an “opportunist” or “cherry-picker” because that’s basically what he’s been up to since then. end of 2018.
Canelo has had no ups and downs as his opponent has anywhere near beaten him 50-50 since late 2018. He has opted to take on the weak champions from England in 168th place after Benavidez lost his WBC title on the scale in 2020.
Canelo’s objections since late 2018:
- Rocky Fielding – 168-lb . ‘regular’ WBA Champion
- Sergey Kovalev – 175-lb . WBO Champion
- Daniel Jacobs
- Avni Yildirim – former starting partner for Canelo
- Billy Joe Saunders – 168-lb . WBO Champion
- Callum Smith – 168-lb . WBA ‘Super’ Champion
- Caleb Plant – IBF 168-lb . Champion
It’s all about Canelo’s opportunistic picks, picking weak European champions, solo partners, Plant, and washing out Kovalev & Jacobs.
“I think Canelo beat him, and he might even stop him,” Robert said in predicting victory over the soon-to-be 40-year-old Golovkin. “It’s just common sense that GGG has aged.
“Everybody, ‘Oh, Canelo’s scared to fight Charlo and Benavidez.’ No, Canelo wasn’t afraid to fight them, but they were young. Give them another year before fighting them,” said Garcia.
I don’t think Canelo will stop Golovkin because he can’t throw enough punches to stop him, and even if he does injure him, he won’t be able to get the job done.
