David Benavidez Was Willing to Let Canelo Alvarez Earn Over $60 Million In a 92/8 Purse Split

The way things are stacked, it appears fans won’t be seeing David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez clash anytime soon. Calls-outs and mandatory status have seemingly proved ineffective in bringing in two of boxing’s biggest names for an epic clash. With discretion leading the way, both champions now reportedly stand on separate roads, showing little sign of convergence.

David Benavidez subsequently announced a move to the light heavyweight division last month. He will take on Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the interim title. However, as the latest update shows, the bitterness over the (hopefully temporary) loss of what could have been the biggest fight of his career probably still lingers. Especially given the lengths he was willing to go to get the fight going.

David Benavidez: When Tenacity Met Reluctance?

Michael Benson shared a news story yesterday. Reportedly, ‘The Mexican Monster’ revealed forgoing a heavily skewed fight to the tune of 92/8 split. However, he wanted to forge ahead just so he could get a chance to fight Canelo Alvarez. David Benavidez was speaking on ‘The Boxing Voice’ when he made the surprising revelation.

Some ten minutes after the interview started, the host asked, “Given the recent news Canelo leaving PBC, would you consider a buyout of your PBC contract to cross the street for the Saul fight?” “F*ck no, bro,” said David Benavidez. He explained how so many criticized him for chasing the fight for the big payday it offered. So he clarified that thanks to Al Haymon and the PBC, he had been doing fairly well for himself for the last seven years.

He added that Canelo Alvarez was being offered a whopping $60 million. It would have crossed over to a much higher amount after the addition from the pay-per-view profits. On the other hand, Benavidez, himself, was receiving only around $5 million. After he paid his trainer and the rest of the staff, it would have gone down to $3.5 million (before tax). From his point of view, he was completely fine with Canelo Alvarez receiving the lion’s share of the split.

He said, “I was fine with that. I was completely fine with that. This guy was taking everything. He was literally taking everything. I’m not saying that he shouldn’t. I mean, if he’s entitled to he’s entitled… I wanted the opportunity, but if they’re giving him 60 million here, what could they possibly give him over here? It’s the same f**king thing, so why would I go across the street?”

What possibly could have been a better reason for him to switch over from PBC? he asked.

Super Middleweight On The Move

Given the reports of his exit from the PBC, rumors are rife about Canelo Alvarez joining the Matchroom stable. If that happens, then a fight with Edgar Berlanga becomes highly likely. Otherwise, The Golden Boy Promotions’ Jaime Munguia could be the alternative. In the meantime, Benavidez, once done with Gvozdyk, could come back to stake a claim to the undisputed super middleweight title. Fans should not lose hope and pray that the biggest fight in modern boxing’s history comes around soon.

Read More: “It’s Very Interesting Fight But”: Sparred With David Benavidez and Defeated Canelo Alvarez Earlier, Dmitry Bivol Sheds Light on How Possible Saul vs Benavidez Fight Would Go Now

What’s your take on the whole Benavidez-Alvarez fight issue? Do you think ‘The Mexican Monster’ did the right thing by moving up a division?

Also Read: Despite Being WBC Mandatory, David Benavidez’s Potential Canelo Alvarez Fight Faces New Hurdle