Promoter Leonard Ellerbe believes David Benavidez’s disrespect that he’s shown Canelo Alvarez is why he’s failed to get a fight against him.
In Ellerbe’s mind, Benavidez and his dad, Jose Sr., have used the wrong approach to try to get a fight against the superstar Canelo by pressuring and shaming him into giving them what they want.
Benavidez has gotten used to getting his way in terms of getting fights against whoever he wants. Having Canelo choose not to fight him has been a jolt to Benavidez’s mind, and he doesn’t know how to make sense of it. He’s showing the classic behavior of a spoiled fighter.
Ellerbe says that Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) doesn’t care what anyone thinks, and he’s not entertaining a fight against him if he’s disrespected. Further, Benavidez needs Canelo, not the other way around.
At this point, Benavidez and Jose Sr. have said so much about Canelo that it’s futile for them to continue their public pressure campaign. They need to move on and move up in weight, preferably to cruiserweight.
Benavidez can still have a good career at light heavyweight, cruiserweight or heavyweight if he can deal with fighting opposition his own size, but he needs to put his obsession with Canelo out of his mind once and for all.
Ellerbe: Disrespect Breeds Disregard
“I read something where Canelo felt disrespected [by Benavidez]. If that’s their [Team Benavidez] approach, when you disrespect, you get no check,” said Leonard Ellerbe to Fight Hub TV on why he feels that David Benavidez has failed to get the fight against Canelo Alvarez.
“If I’m disrespectful, they’re not eating at this table if I’ve got any say-so about it. That’s not going to happen. You got to learn how to be respectful,” said Ellerbe.
Benavidez must change his approach with how he attempts to get a fight against Canelo, but again, it might be too late. The Mexican Monster Benavidez likely burned his bridge a long, long time ago with the things he said, which is why he needs to forget about Canelo and make the best of it at 175 or 200.
“When a guy that is at Canelo’s level, and he’s at the highest level of boxing, you’ve got to find a way to get him in the ring,” said Ellerbe. “Disrespecting him, nobody is going to put any pressure on him. He doesn’t care what you think, and I don’t blame him.
Does Canelo Need Benavidez?
“Here is a man who has made hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars. He’s fought everybody. When you look at Benavidez, he kind of needs him and not the other way around. You got to know how to play the game,” said Ellerbe.
Canelo has a net worth estimated at $250 million, and if he sticks around for another three to five years, it could increase to the $400 million range. He doesn’t need Benavidez for him to make additional money.
