Former two-time WBC super-middleweight world champion David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) is changing the trajectory of his boxing career as he’s stepping up to a new division, but will Canelo and the WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman give Benavidez an unwanted case of deja vu?
Benavidez has proven himself over and over again as it relates to being the top contender in the super-middleweight division. Despite his status as the mandatory challenger, the undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez has navigated his way around Benavidez once again.
Benavidez was hopeful as it relates to finally receiving his chance to fight for the undisputed crown, but his hope started to diminish back in December 2023 when Jaime Munguia confirmed that Canelo’s team reached out to him in regards to a potential bout.
Three months later, the matchup was made official as Canelo Alvarez is set to face Jaime Munguia on May 4th. Once again the mandatory challenger at 168 is on the outside looking in.
Benavidez has moved up to 175 seeking a new opportunity, but disappointment could make an appearance in his new division.
Back in May 2022, David Benavidez scored a 3rd round TKO victory over David Lemieux and won the vacant WBC Interim super-middleweight title. Benavidez was ready to immediately cash in his golden ticket, but WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman had other ideas.
“Caleb Plant will fight Benavidez for the Interim title, and the winner will become the mandatory of the division to fight Canelo Alvarez,” Mauricio Sulaiman stated at the WBC Convention back in November 2022.
Four months later, David Benavidez defeated Caleb Plant by way of unanimous decision. Benavidez became Canelo’s mandatory for a second time, but once again, the WBC president provided another obstacle.
“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 champion,”
Sulaiman said during the November 2023 WBC convention.
A week later David Benavidez stopped Demetrius Andrade in the sixth round. Benavidez became Canelo’s mandatory for a third time, but months would go by and the WBC president seemed like he had no interest in ordering the Canelo vs Benavidez bout.
Once again fight fans were robbed of the highly anticipated mega fight as Canelo provided the excuses, and Sulaiman supplied the stall tactics. As it became clear to Benavidez that he wasn’t going to get the May 4th fight, he decided to move on. Mauricio Sulaiman seemed anxious in regards to making the fight announcement.
“Very proud to announce a sensational fight which the WBC has approved to sanction for the interim light heavyweight championship Benavidez vs Gvozdyk. Wish the best of luck to both champions,” Sulaiman said.
For two years, David Benavidez has been the mandatory challenger at 168, but he was never awarded his shot at the undisputed super-middleweight crown. Now it appears he’s one win away from fighting for the undisputed light heavyweight world title, but that may not be the case.
The way things stand as of now, if Benavidez wins his upcoming fight, he will face the winner of the June 1st undisputed championship bout between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
That’s the initial plan, but in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, Canelo Alvarez showed interest in fighting the Bivol-Beterbiev winner.
“There is always the possibility of having a rematch with Dmitry Bivol. Why not? That fight. I would love to have that fight,” Canelo said.
If Beterbiev wins the June 1st battle, Canelo may not be interested in a bout for undisputed at light heavyweight. If Bivol wins, it is very possible that Canelo will pursue a fight for the 175-pound undisputed crown.
Hypothetically speaking, let’s say Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) takes care of business against Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), and David Benavidez defeats Oleksandr Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs). If Bivol defeats Beterbiev, who gets the shot at the undisputed light-heavyweight title, Canelo or Benavidez?
If Benavidez wins his bout against Gvozdyk, he will be the mandatory as the WBC interim light-heavyweight titlist, but as we have witnessed for the past two years, when you’re depending on Mauricio Sulaiman to order a fight, the interim/mandatory status means absolutely nothing.
If Dmitry Bivol defeats Artur Beterbiev, Canelo Alvarez will definitely seek the opportunity to get revenge and add to his legacy. Unfortunately for David Benavidez, if the scenario previously stated actually plays out, then the team of Canelo Alvarez and Mauricio Sulaiman may give Benavidez a case of deja vu.