Jose Benavidez Sr: Jermall Charlo beats Canelo Alvarez

By Boxing News - 03/28/2021 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Trainer Jose Benavidez Jr says Jermall Charlo would beat Canelo Alvarez if that fight were to happen. Jose sees the unbeaten WBC middleweight champion Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) using his jab to beat Canelo.

According to Jose, Canelo is a “basic” fighter, and Jermall would take advantage of his limited game.

Jose says that Canelo does well against stationary fighters that stand in front of him. Charlo wouldn’t fight like that against Canelo, and he would give him a lot of problems.

Canelo is safe from Jermall due to him fighting at 168, which effectively keeps him away. It also gives Canelo cover from the boxing fans because he’s got a ready-made excuse for why he’s not fighting Charlo.

Benavidez favors Jermall over Canelo

“I would have to favor Jermall Charlo,” said Jose Benavidez Sr to AKHi TV when asked ‘who wins between Jermall and Canelo. “I think Charlo is a very slick fighter, and he’s very unpredictable.

Image: Jose Benavidez Sr: Jermall Charlo beats Canelo Alvarez

“He [Charlo] has a lot of abilities. He’s not a normal fighter. He has a little bit of awkwardness, and he has a good jab. It’s not the best jab, like people say, but it is a good jab.

“Canelo, if you have a good jab, you are going to give him a lot of problems. So I see a better-rounded fighter with Charlo than with Canelo.

“Canelo is just a basic fighter. Canelo, he just comes and loops with those big hooks. Of course, if you just stay there, he generates all that power.

“If you get hit, he’s going to do some damage. With Charlo, I don’t think he’s going to stay there.

“I think he’s going to make him miss. I’m going to have to go with Charlo. That’s why I say he’s a very dangerous fighter,” said Benavidez about Jermall.

Jose Benavidez isn’t the only one that believes that Jermall Charlo would be too much for Canelo.

Many boxing fans see Charlo as too big, skilled, and talented for Canelo. Hence, that could be the reason why Canelo has chosen not to fight Jermall for the last ten years.

It’s one thing for Canelo not to fight Charlo for a few years, but for a 10-year period, it’s obvious that he’s been shying away from him.

Canelo easier opponent than Jermall

“I will tell you something; I would feel more comfortable fighting Canelo than I would Jermall Charlo.

Image: Jose Benavidez Sr: Jermall Charlo beats Canelo Alvarez

“No matter what nationality you are from, people will love you if you come to deliver and leave your heart inside the ring.

“Now, if you don’t do that, they’re not going to respect you. Manny Pacquiao is from the Philippines. Mexican people love him. GGG is not Mexican. Mexican fans go crazy for him.

“I think Mexican people like GGG more than they like Canelo. That’s my point.

“When you come and fight, and you’re not ducking any fighters, and you fight whoever and rank guys from one to three, they’ll give you that respect.

“That’s why they don’t like Canelo. He doesn’t want to fight the people that are going to give him trouble.

“Canelo is the best at 168 right now. Terence Crawford is the best at his weight [147]. If he fights Errol Spence, we’ll see who’s the best.

“To me, those are the two best fighters at 147. Errol Spence is a great fighter two. Until they fight each other, only then will we know who’s the real pound-for-pound,” Benavidez said.

The 5’8″ Canelo’s limited height and reach would put him at a big disadvantage against the 6’1″ Charlo and the 6’2″ Benavidez.

Unlike former WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith, who lacked the boxing IQ to utilize his height and reach against Alvarez, Charlo and Benavidez would use their size to make it tough on him.

Beating Charlo would open doors for Benavidez

“I would have to say Charlo,” said Jose Benavidez when asked who would be the most difficult opponent for his son David Benavidez out of Charlo, Canelo, and Caleb Plant.

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“Charlo has a different style. To me, I think that would be a tougher opponent for David.

“His way of fighting and his style would be a little more difficult than Canelo. Caleb Plant is nothing. They’re trying to build him.

“He will move five or six rounds, and we’ll finally catch him and put him out. Once we beat Charlo, that will take us to another level.

“Then we could prove and show people where we’re at. It’s a perilous fight, but if you want these rewards, you’ve got to face these fighters that are very, very dangerous.

“We have no problems doing that. He has to prove where he’s at. Once he beats Charlo, there are no more questions about David.

“Charlo becomes successful too. It’s a good fight for both of them to get to the next level, said Jose Benavidez.

Beating Jermall Charlo would definitely put former two-division world champion Benavidez in a good position to pressure Canelo to fight.

I mean, it wouldn’t guarantee a fight against Canelo because we’ve seen the star ignore plenty of fighters coming off huge wins. A win for Benavidez would put make Canelo look like a ducker if he chose not to fight him.