By Craig Daly: Canelo Alvarez abruptly closed the post-fight press conference last Saturday night following his victory over Gennadiy Golovkin when asked if he will fight David Benavidez in the future.
With the response that Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) gave to the media, he made it clear that he prefers not to fight undefeated interim WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (26-0, 23 KOs).
Fans are starting to see Canelo as a cherry picker because he is arguably avoiding risky opponents like Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade and Jermall Charlo.
While it’s a good thing that Canelo fought Dmitry Bivol last May, you have to remember that fight was seen as an easy and sure win for the Mexican star before the fight.
Bivol had looked poor in a recent narrow decision win over Craig Richards. Therefore, he was selected by Canelo to fight for his WBA 175-pound title.
It’s a fight fans want to see, and Benavidez, 25, is still in his prime and not as old as Golovkin, 40.
Many boxing fans felt that Canelo’s boring trilogy against an old, bullet-like Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KO) was virtually unwatchable and not worth the $85 or $65 price tag.
“I don’t know. Anything can happen. Whenever I say this, you show the video and put whatever you want,” Canelo Alvarez said when asked if we could see a fight between him and David Benavidez in the future.
“When I say I don’t want to fight Mexicans, it’s because I represent Mexico, and that’s why. But I don’t care. I fight anyone, and I fight all my life, against anyone.
What do you think I don’t fight one Mexico, Benavidez? Look, I hear his father talking a lot of shit. Look what he has achieved, nothing. A single champion, Anthony Dirrell. Please don’t disrespect me. Please guys,” Canelo said.
“No more questions because I’m a little bit angry and tired,” Canelo said. “They can do whatever they want. It doesn’t bother me who they fight. I don’t give a shit,” Canelo said when asked if Benavidez and fighters like Bivol should fight each other.
It’s unclear why this simple question about Benavidez would make Canelo so angry.
It seemed a bit strange because you argue that if you asked Canelo about fighting Caleb Plant, Avni Yildirim or Billy Joe Saunders, you wouldn’t get the same angry reaction.
“I feel like if he’s not going to fight the Mexicans anymore, then what’s going on?” David Benavidez told Fighthype, talking about Canelo no longer wanting to fight the Mexicans.
“I have the interim WBC belt. There are rankings for a reason. Canelo is going to figure it out, and the WBC is going to figure it out. I have earned my place repeatedly.
“I have won two title eliminators and I have won an interim title. It’s not my fault these guys don’t want to fight me. If it’s not Canelo giving me the opportunity, it’s frustrating.
“Time is on my side because I am 26 years old. Charlie is 30 years old. Caleb Plant is 30 years old and Canelo is 30 years old. The only one who is young is Morrell. I want a big fight.
“I feel like the walls are closing in on all of these fighters. The [Canelo] He probably said that because if Zurdo Ramírez beats Bivol, ‘I’m not going to fight any more Mexicans.’
“Why not get the biggest paycheck possible? Everyone says we’re looking for the paycheck. The one who is receiving the real salary is Canelo. I don’t want to be the type of person who complains. ‘Oh, he wants a handout.’ I don’t want alms. I want to win my way to Canelo.
“How am I going to do that if no one wants to fight me? It’s a tough situation, but like I said, the walls are closing in on all these fighters. Eventually we are going to have to fight,” Benavidez said.
