Via Jeff Aaron: WBC 168-lb 1st place contender David Benavidez says undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez will need to vacate his titles if he doesn’t return to the league to defend them.
Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs) will face #2 WBC David Lemieux for the interim 168-lb WBC title. If Canelo is going to shoot to cruiser or light heavyweight to pursue legacy fights, he will need to vacate his super-middleweight title with the World Boxing Council.
Benavidez, 25, has no intention of sitting back as an interim WBC champion, waiting years for Canelo to finally return to 168-lb after finishing his title-winning expedition in class 175 or cruiser.
Ideally, Benavidez wants Canelo back in the super-middleweight category to counter him in 2022 after he beats Lemieux (43-4.36 KOs) for the first time to claim the 168-time interim WBC title. lb.
Alvarez does what he pleases
Canelo (57-1-2, 39 KOs) hasn’t told anyone his specific plans for the next game. All we know is that he previously revealed at the WBC convention that he would be moving up to cruiserweight to challenge WBC champion Ilunga Makabu.
But at the end of last week, we heard from Mike Coppinger that Canelo is currently considering a match against middleweight Jermall Charlo at 168 on May 7. Nothing has been announced towards that end, and Canelo could be. choose not to face Jermall.
Canelo does what he wants at this point, and he seems to go against what the fans want from him.
For example, instead of Canelo going up against Benavidez or Gennady Golovkin, he’s spent the past two years unifying the 168-lb class against marginally capable British super-middleweights and a weak American champion.
US boxing fans didn’t want any of those fights, but Canelo still picked them up as if he had planned them. choose the exact opposite about what people want.
Canelo clearly doesn’t like being told what to do, but challenge won’t help him build his legacy. Children do what they please and their parents punish them.
The only way Canelo can be punished by the fans for giving them the opposite of what they demanded is for them to stop watching his matches.
If Canelo wants to impress the next generation of super boxing fans, he’ll need to start listening to this generation’s fans and giving them the fights they want to see. So far, he has received a fail in that area since 2018.
David warns Canelo: ‘I’m not going anywhere’
“I was really excited because back then, I was a fan of David Lemieux. Like I said, I’ve watched boxing all my life,” David Benavidez told Russ Anber Podcast.
“I feel like this is going to be a great fight for the fans and for boxing,” Benavidez said of his fight with Canelo.
“They can say what they want to say, but I’m still winning my fights and I’m still #1 in the super-middleweight division. People will keep calling for that fight [Benavidez vs. Canelo].
“They may say this or that, but I am here to stay. So if they don’t fight me now, they will have to fight me in the future because I’m getting nowhere.
“I’m 100 per cent honest, I don’t like to get into politics or not have it,” said Benavidez when asked if he believes Canelo is a rival who is picking the cherry and avoiding him and Artur. Betterbiev,” said Benavidez.
Without the help of the WBC, Benavidez could have waited a year or two for Canelo. Knowing how much the WBC respects Canelo, they likely won’t push him to face Benavidez in 2022 or 2023.
It would be a shame if Benavidez is forced to wait until 2024 before he finally wins the WBC title or if he gets promoted without a chance against Canelo.
Benavidez: Canelo needs to vacate 168-lb . titles
“If he will stay at 168, he should fight number 1 at 168,” Benavidez talks about Canelo needing to go up against him if he’s going to be super-middleweight.
“He fought the No. 1 candidate when the WBC [168-lb] title is blank, [Avni] Yildirim, and Yildirim haven’t fought anyone yet, and he’s clearly taken care of him.
“If he [Canelo] will be 168 years old, he will have to fight me. If he’s not 168, ignore all the titles,” Benavidez said while telling Canelo the cold truth.
“He can pick and choose if he’s going to go up to 175 or 200 lbs or whatever he wants to do. He can do whatever he wants to do. If everyone goes today, he [Canelo] choose & choose, it’s someone else’s right.
“I am in my lane. I have tunnel vision. My main focus is on titles. So if he doesn’t fight me, he has to vacate the titles, and I will fight for the titles,” said Benavidez.
Canelo likely won’t lose his WBC title unless he is ordered to take on Benavidez, and that probably won’t happen anytime soon.
Sports combat against Lemieux
“So when David Lemieux came in, he had his run where he took everyone down,” Benavidez said of his next opponent. “I think it starts with [Gabe] Rosado, and then he kept going up.
“I like the way he fights,” Benavidez talks about Lemieux. “I just took two weeks off after the game and started training. It’s going to be a great fight, and I feel like it’s a fight that people want to see.
“Two former world champions, both wanted to reach the next level. We both need this fight to get the interim WBC title, so we’ll both be hungry, but the winner is the fan.
“Since I came back, I have had a streak of five knockouts, and I am looking to continue. Like I said, I want to declare. It will be a great fight, but it won’t go too far,” said Benavidez.
Benavidez’s fight against Lemieux could be crucial, but it depends on the speed of the WBC’s orders against Canelo.
In some ways, Benavidez would be better off giving up the 168-lb part. At the same time, Canelo holds four titles as sanctioning authorities can pull their foot on the mandatory order for the famous Mexican star.
Benavidez: I will beat Canelo 100%
“I took nothing from Canelo. I feel he is the best person right now,” Benavidez said. “But like I said, I still want to shoot him. I feel like he still hasn’t faced someone like me in the super-middleweight class.
“Fast, strong, young, throwing body shots, punching in a tight style. I feel like I’m going to give Canelo the best fight, and I feel like I can beat Canelo 100%. I just need my chance.
“It’s frustrating when people say I haven’t played anyone, I’ve never played by views, I’m nobody, this, that. You can say all that, but I’m going through the ranks at super average.
“I’ve been number one in three games already. I have defeated those I must defeat, and there I am. People love to watch me fight, so why don’t they want to fight me? ‘ Benavidez said.
You’ll have to give Benavidez a chance to beat Canelo the way he did last year. Canelo’s work rate is currently too low, and his reflexes are also slow, making him more difficult than ever.
He lost to Caleb Plant and Billy Joe Saunders in the first half of those fights, and those aren’t huge talents.
