David Benavidez Fires Back at Canelo Alvarez’s $200 Million Fight Purse Demand

Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez now, at least for the time being, navigate separate rivers in the boxing world. The undisputed super middleweight champion has a Cinco de Mayo extravaganza lined up against Jaime Munguia. The WBC interim super middleweight champion, on the other hand, will face Oleksandr Gvozdyk for his inaugural interim light heavyweight title. For nearly a year, talks over a fight between Alvarez and Benavidez hogged headlines. But where did it lead to? Only the intrigue continues.

The all-Mexican slugfest will take place on May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena. The day before yesterday, Alvarez addressed media personnel at the kick-off press conference for the Munguia fight. Unsurprisingly, questions veered off towards the fight with Benavidez. It didn’t take much time before the Mexican champion’s piquant response started garnering attention. At the opposite corner, however, David Benavidez was ready with a riposte.

Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez: Debating Value

A reporter asked Canelo Alvarez, “You don’t think that’s the the one of the biggest fights that can be made?” The P4P legend replied that David Benavidez doesn’t add much value to the match. He said, “I don’t, maybe who knows, but you know he he brings he bring nothing to the table for me; just he brings just 25 pounds more in the night, the the fight on on the night, that’s it.”

However, he clarified that if a promoter, or for that matter, the team he is working with currently, is willing to offer him something in the range of $150 million to $200 million, then he can fight Benavidez at the drop of a hat. “But if he if if some promoter not him because he’s nothing to offer me..so but I one promoter who I work to they come and say I offer to I offer to you 150 to 200 million I fight tomorrow Canelo this that’s the only that’s the only reason I fight with him…the only thing he bring to the table is 25 more pounds,” he said.

As Dan Rafael shared early today, ‘The Mexican Monster’ didn’t mince words. Shooting back, he wondered why Alvarez would seek $150 million to $200 million for fighting a boxer who basically has nothing more to offer, according to him. He said, “If I have nothing to offer, then why are you demanding you get 150-200 million to fight someone who isn’t worth anything?” Then, jabbing at the undisputed champion’s guts, he quipped, “Hopefully, after you make that 150 million, you have enough left over to buy a pair of n*ts.”

To many fans, it might be a response very much on expected lines. David Benavidez had been calling out Canelo Alvarez for some time.

Setting the Stage

Team Benavidez made his intentions clear right after the Caleb Plant fight. Over the course of months, the Mexican champion went on to fight John Ryder and Jermell Charlo. ‘The Mexican Monster’, on the other hand, saw himself elevated as WBC’s mandatory challenger.

But despite being so close, the fight between the two never materialized. The list of potential opponents for Canelo Alvarez only shrank as time passed. With Benavidez eventually moving out for 175-pound glory and no hopes for a Terence Crawford fight, it was down to Edgar Berlanga, Jermall Charlo, and Jaime Munguia. The former WBO light-middleweight champion eventually won the race. But is the door closed for the Alvarez-Benavidez blockbuster? Fans shouldn’t lose hope. Perhaps after a fight or two, the duo could segue back.

Read More: Not Fighting David Benavidez Now Would Be Canelo Alvarez’s Biggest Mistake

What’s your take on Benavidez’s reply to Alvarez? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

Also Read: Mexican Boxing Legend Says Canelo Alvarez Needs David Benavidez to ‘Push’ Him to Greatness