Will WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman Order Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez Fight?

By Vince DWriter - 01/15/2024 - Comments

The 2023 boxing calendar was an entertaining series of events, but one highly anticipated boxing match that wasn’t included on the docket was the undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) vs. the former two-time WBC super-middleweight champion David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs).

Fight fans have had their eyes set on this potential matchup for the past two years, but unfortunately, this super-fight hasn’t been made. David Benavidez has earned his shot at the undisputed crown, and the question remains: will WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman order the Canelo-Benavidez fight in 2024?

After defeating 40-year-old Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin in their trilogy fight back in September 2022, members of the media mentioned David Benavidez’s name during Alvarez’s post-fight press conference. Alvarez became frustrated and provided a response.

“Guys, always I say this, you show that video and put whatever you want. When I say I don’t want to fight Mexican is because I represent Mexico, and that’s why, but I don’t care. I fight anybody my entire life. Whether you think I don’t want to fight with one Mexican, Benavidez, but look I hear his dad talking a lot of sh*t, but look he’s accomplished nothing, one single champion, Anthony Dirrell.”

Canelo Alvarez criticized the former two-time WBC super-middleweight champion David Benavidez’s credentials, but then he goes on to fight John Ryder, a man who has never held a world title, and he came into the Canelo fight with five losses already on his record.

After scoring a victory over John Ryder, once again fight fans were hoping for an Alvarez-Benavidez clash. Once again Canelo ignored the status of Benavidez as he proceeded to choose a less qualified opponent.

Coming into the bout, Jermell Charlo had impressive credentials as he was a reigning undisputed world champion. The problem with the selection of Jermell Charlo as an opponent was the fact that he was coming up two divisions to face Canelo.

Charlo, who normally fights at 154, somehow leapfrogged David Benavidez to get a shot at the 168-pound undisputed crown back in September 2023. The event was a disappointment because instead of trying to win, Charlo showed up to survive and go the distance.

Meanwhile, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman made a statement that the winner of the March 2023 clash between former IBF super-middleweight world champion Caleb Plant and WBC Interim titlist David Benavidez would be the mandatory for Canelo.

Benavidez would go on to win the bout by way of unanimous decision, but somehow, Jermell Charlo received the opportunity to fight Canelo Alvarez. Even though he didn’t get the fight, the WBC President did acknowledge the fact that Benavidez is the mandatory.

“David Benavidez is the mandatory contender. However, he’s fighting Andrade on November 25,” Mauricio Sulaiman said at the WBC Convention. “After the results with the specifics-whether injury, cut, or whatever-this time we confirm that David Benavidez is the mandatory. If he were to be successful against Demetrius Andrade, he is to be ratified as the mandatory for the WBC championship.”

On the night of November 25, 2023, David Benavidez stopped Demetrius Andrade in the sixth round. After Benavidez defeated Andrade, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman refused to confirm if the Canelo Alvarez-David Benavidez fight would be ordered next.

At his post-fight press conference back in November 2022, Alvarez questioned Benavidez’s credentials, and then he went on to face a less accomplished opponent. During the same press conference, Alvarez stated he didn’t want to fight a Mexican, but now rumors are floating about him fighting a Mexican opponent.

Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) is scheduled to battle John Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) on Saturday night, January 27th. If Munguia wins, there’s a good chance he will face Canelo Alvarez on the weekend of Cinco de Mayo. According to Munguia, moves are being made in regards to making the Cinco de Mayo match.

“First of all, I would like to clarify that I’m not asking for Canelo, and I’m not calling him up. We started conversations, they called us, we started conversations, and of course, we like the fight, but we’re not calling him up,” Munguia stated during an interview with FightHype.

Jaime Munguia has a good record, but he’s only had one fight as a 168-pounder. Back in June 2023, Munguia defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko, but Munguia was hurt on several occasions. Nevertheless, with a win over Ryder, it appears as though Munguia will face Alvarez.

If Munguia wins on January 27th, one would think Benavidez would fill the September slot as it relates to fighting Canelo for the undisputed crown. That may not be a guarantee either, as Canelo could possibly throw a curve ball and go the route of facing Jermall Charlo, Terence Crawford, or Edgar Berlanga.

By selecting around and over David Benavidez, many Canelo Alvarez supporters claim he’s doing what Floyd Mayweather did when he was the cash cow. That is true, but only to a certain degree.

The bottom line is when the public criticized a 36-year-old Mayweather and accused him of ducking a young undefeated boxer who was brutalizing his sparring partners, Mayweather stepped up to the challenge and went on to defeat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.