Canelo Alvarez and the choice of his opponents this year, needless to say, have been rather puzzling for the fans. His loyal fan base would have preferred to witness him going toe-to-toe with heavy-handed David Benavidez. But first, they got a Cinco de Mayo fight in Jaime Munguia, and now, for their annual Mexican Independence Day treat, they have Edgar Berlanga. Is this a fight that will move the needle? The verdict is still out on it. But for ‘Mexican Monster,’ it’s a fight that “no one wants to see”.

Benavidez, 27, who had been Alvarez’s mandatory for over 2  years, ended his disappointing chase with the Mexican champion, as he decided to stay put at 175 and challenge for the gold. He had been devoid of the same at 168 because Alvarez, 34, never ceded to the fans’ demand. The latter also tossed Benavidez’s WBC’s interim title mandate into the bin. With Alvarez, at 61-2-2, now trying to attract eyeballs for his September fight, he might struggle a bit. That’s what the American fighter believes.

In a conversation with ‘2ToneDaSupastar,’ Benavidez, at 29-0, expressed his candid view of Alvarez vs. Berlanga. Not only did he slander the fight but also threw a shade on the Mexican champion. He said, “It’s a trash-a*s fight. Nobody wants to see that. But at the end of the day, Canelo doesn’t face the strongest opposition.”

After the IBF stripped Alvarez of one of his titles at 168, the fight has already received a jolt. The fight tries to bank on the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry to sell tickets to the MGM Arena, but if some are to believe, Alvarez missed the trick by not fighting Benavidez. The fans were curious to witness how the Guadalajara native would have fared against a power puncher in Benavidez. However, now that the ship has sailed, the Phoenix native is focused on his light-heavyweight journey. But he does hold a grudge against Alvarez for not giving him the biggest fight of his career.

David Benavidez recalls being mandatory for Canelo Alvarez

In the same conversation, Benavidez shed light on being mandatory for Alvarez, which the WBC never enforced against the super middleweight champion. Speaking with a tone of discontent, the orthodox boxer said, “I have been his mandatory for the last three years. I can’t force a man to fight me. It shouldn’t even come to a position where you have to activate your mandatory. What’s the interim title for? That’s basically activating your mandatory… At the end of the day, I gotta move forward with my career.”

Benavidez is now next in line to face the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, where all the straps of 175 will be on the line. He might have to wait for a while, as Beterbiev vs. Bivol has a rematch clause. So you can expect Beanvidez to finally realize his ambition of fighting for the undisputed crown somewhere in the first quarter of 2025.

What do you make of these comments by David Benavidez about Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga? Do you believe it’s a fair assessment by him? Let us know in the comments below.