Boxing great Marco Antonio Barrera says Canelo Alvarez needs to fight David Benavidez to get “credibility” with the fans.
He feels that the former four-division world champion and current undisputed super middleweight champ Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) will start receiving credibility after he faces the unbeaten Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs).
Barrera also favors Canelo fighting Jaime Munguia, who impressed him with his win over John Ryder.
Benavidez: The Credibility Booster?
“Four division champion, but he’s missing David Benavidez,” said Marco Antonio Barrera to the media about Canelo Alvarez not having Benavidez on his resume. “I believe he could fight Benavidez. That’s a fight that we want to see.
“People would start to give him credibility,” said Barrera about Canelo needing Benavidez’s name on his resume. “But he needs that push. It’s up to the boxer to stand up to that challenge.
With all Benavidez’s whining, it’s possible that Canelo doesn’t want to give him the payday. That would reward Benavidez for all the trash-talking he’s done, and it would lead to other fighters trying the same tactic, thinking that if they badmouth Canelo long enough, he will get angry and fight them just to get them to shut up.
Munguia: An Alternative Option?
“Personally, I don’t like that. He already beat his brother,” said Barrera about Jermall Charlo, who is rumored to be Canelo’s opponent for May 4th. “It could be Munguia. That would be terrific, too,” said Barrera.
#1 WBO and #2 WBC Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) has fought twice at 168, stopping 35-year-old John Ryder and beating 38-year-old Sergiy Derevyanchenko by a twelve-round unanimous decision.
No Love for Morrell
Barrera didn’t mention David Morrell Jr. as someone Canelo should fight for credibility, even though he holds a world title at 168, and Benavidez and Munguia don’t.
As the WBA super middleweight champion, Morrell is more deserving of a fight against Canelo than Munguia.
Barrera’s choice of Munguia and leaveout of Morrell makes you wonder if he has another gauge for what he considers credibility-building for Canelo. Is this more about popularity than talent? If so, why doesn’t Barrera say it upfront?
Munguia is not a better fighter than Morrell, and he certainly doesn’t rate a fight against Canelo after just two fights at 168, both against older fighters.
