By Dan Ambrose: David Benavidez has taken to social media to call out undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez for a fight on September 16th on PPV.
The unbeaten Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) sent Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) a message on Instagram, saying, “Let’s give the people what they want to see.”
Benavidez is calling Canelo out at the perfect time because, more than ever, boxing fans are pushing the Mexican star to fight him next, not Dmitry Bivol, who they collectively feel he’s too small and limited as a fighter to beat.
If Canelo were a speedy, high-volume combination puncher with excellent defense, he would stand a chance against the undefeated 175-pound Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs), but he’s none of those things.
Instead, Alvarez is a short, one-paced, low-volume, one punch-at-a-time, easy-to-hit, and stamina-plagued fighter that is made to order for Bivol or even the light heavyweight-sized Benavidez.
After his harder-than-expected victory over John Ryder last Saturday night in Guadalajara, Mexico, Canelo told his fans that he wants a rematch with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol under the same exact terms as last time they fought.
The way that Canelo talked indicated to some that he doesn’t want the Bivol rematch and will make it impossible for the contest to happen during negotiations.
It’s time for Canelo to be the underdog
“We’re no longer seeing that arching move to the side now where he throws that left hook to the liver that eviscerated his opponents. He’s hunting with the big right hand. I don’t think he has more than two or three fights left,” said Gareth A Davies to talkSPORT Boxing about Canelo Alvarez from how he looked against John Ryder last weekend.
David Benavidez calling for the Canelo Alvarez fight on Instagram today… pic.twitter.com/D2obtbqvjR
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 11, 2023
“Bivol is a very tough ask. Bivol is a big upright, beautifully defensive, skilled fighter. As Canelo said afterwards, ‘Same weight division, same right, same conditions. I want to fight him again.’
“David Benavidez is the fight for me. That’s the fight that will get the soul of Canelo out there again. It’s the fight I’ve been wanting to see for two years. Benavidez will bring it,” Gareth continued. “Take that home to Mexico because that will draw the best out of Canelo.
“No more underdogs. Let’s make Canelo the underdog in his next two or three fights.
“Get him there [100,000-seat Azteca Stadium in Mexico City]. Blood, decapitations,” said Gareth on where Canelo must fight next against Benavidez.
“Canelo needs to go in there with genuine fear,” said Ade Oladipo. “He didn’t have that against Ryder. There was no fear here. Benavidez adds a bit of fear here. I don’t want to see Bivol at 175. Canelo is small at 168. I don’t want to see him against a big Bivol. Leave that alone.”
“It could really sell properly. That’s the fight that you could do at the Azteca or in Las Vegas in a big holiday fight,” said Gareth about the Canelo vs. Benavidez contest.
“The Mexican national sport is fighting. More than 30 million Mexicans put down what they’re doing when Canelo fights. He is the most followed boxer in the world, and we must never forget that. This guy is an absolute superstar. He is the Tiger Woods of boxing. This guy is the biggest star in boxing,” said Gareth about Alvarez.
