Is David Benavidez’s Mexican Heritage Stopping Canelo Alvarez From Fighting Him?: Real Reason This Grudge Match Might Never Happen

Nothing endears boxing fans more than to see two of the best and ablest fighters turning up in a ring to close all arguments. But in present-day boxing, it is becoming incredibly rare. Fans still await confirmation on the Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. fight. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk‘s fight went over the docks, at least for now. Talks of a match between ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and David Benavidez have been on for some time. However, it’s nowhere near an end. So is there any hope for this battle?

‘Canelo’ Alvarez would defend his Super Middleweight titles in a few days. He was out of action for a couple of months as he underwent a hand surgery post-trilogy fight against Gennady Golovkin in September. Understandably, he has expressed an urge to avenge the defeat handed over by Dmitry Bivol on May 7, 2022. But time and again, fans and critics have been raising the big ‘Benavidez question’.

David Benavidez retained his interim Super Middleweight title after winning the much-vaunted fight against Caleb Plant on March 25. Besides, he proved that he is now ready for big fights. He understands that he and Alvarez are arguably the only two superpowers in the 168 lbs. division. So he gave an open shout-out to ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, saying, “I have a lot of respect for Canelo Alvarez, but he has to give me that shot now that’s what everybody wants to see me versus Canelo let’s make it happen in September...”

So what’s stopping two of the biggest names in boxing from slugging it out? Benavidez remains gung-ho about the fight. For Alvarez, it seems to be a Mexican problem, as the reports go.

Canelo Alvarez explains why he won’t fight Mexican boxers: Is he doing injustice to David Benavidez?

Apparently, the game of musical chairs has been swinging for some time. First, the seventh-round knockout victory over Kyrone Davis on November 13, 2021, established David Benavidez as 168 lbs’ topmost contender. Then, as the WBC mandatory fighter, he was looking forward to a clash with Alvarez.

‘Canelo’ Alvarez justified his preference to move up a division instead of accepting Benavidez’s challenge. As highlighted by boxingnews24.com, he said, “Right now, I can do whatever I want. I faced all the 168lbs world champions; I took the title from all of them. Now I do what I want.”

In an interview given to Brian Custer on his podcast, ‘The Last Stand,’ when asked for his position on fighting a Mexican-American fighter like David Benavidez, Alvarez replied, “Like I say, I represent Mexico, so that’s why I don’t like to fight with Mexican fighters anymore.” After that, however, he left everyone’s hopes hanging on the fence by adding, “But you know when you need to fight with somebody, so why not.”

What is David Benavidez’s take on Canelo Alvarez’s stand?

‘Canelo’ Alvarez didn’t budge from his stand the following year, even when the possibility of a fight appeared in the least likelihood. After his second career loss to Bivol, he returned to his division to thwart Golovkin’s challenge on September 22. Bivol, too, resumed a mandatory title defense against Mexican Gilberto Ramirez on November 5.

Talking to USA Today before the Golovkin fight, Alvarez posited that he wanted fellow Mexican Ramirez to win against Bivol. So what would happen if Ramirez won despite the Russian boxer being the obvious favorite? Alvarez added that in such a scenario, he wouldn’t be keen on a clash. “If it’s Zurdo, I don’t want to fight with Mexicans … I represent Mexico,” he said.

But the statement rubbed ‘The Mexican Monster’ on the wrong side. Speaking to Fight Hype, he said, “To be honest, I feel like I’m Mexican and Ecuadorian, but I was born in the US. [So] I feel like he’s just talking about his countrymen, people from Mexico. I get a lot of criticism, too, people saying, ‘he’s American, not Mexican.’ That comment Canelo made, it’s not for me. I’m not 100% Mexican. I’m Mexican and Ecuadorian and was born in the US.”

Obviously flustered, he enquired about Alvarez’s intentions, “I feel like if he’s not going to fight anymore Mexicans, then what’s going on?…” Benavidez contended that as an interim WBC champion, he attained his place as a rightful challenger. “I have the WBC interim belt. We have rankings for a reason. I’ve earned my spot repeatedly. I won two title eliminators… It’s not my fault that these f***ing guys don’t want to fight me,” he said.

Since 2017, ‘Canelo’ Alvarez hasn’t fought a single compatriot. But in the past, he has had fights against fellow Mexicans. For instance, Alfonso Gomez, Alfredo Angulo, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. So the post-fight conference of Golovkin III tested his patience when he was again questioned about the battle with Benavidez. Irked, he replied, “What he accomplished? Nothing, One single champion, Anthony Dirrell.”

Will this Mexican grudge match happen? Is Canelo Alvarez ready to take this fight?

David Benavidez is pretty confident that if he continues winning, then at one point, ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will be left with no option but to face him. On the other hand, the latter seems focused on fending off John Ryder’s challenge on May 6 in his hometown. Expected to be a hassle-free win for him, the Mexican appears clear about the next step – avenging the Bivol loss. Since Matchroom currently promotes both, the feasibility of a rematch remains high.

Hence, the possibility of a grudge between the two hangs in the air, at least for now. However, Oscar De La Hoya seems to have a different take on the issue. He believes Alvarez might not want a fight with Benavidez. The latter’s apparent youth and talent might prove a spanner in the works.

What is true is that time is running out. Before the Caleb Plant fight, Benavidez displayed rare impatience. “After I beat Caleb Planet, I’m entitled to fight for the WBC belt, and if Canelo doesn’t want to fight me for it, he’s going to have to drop the belt. I don’t think he’s going to want to face all that criticism, but we’ll see,” said Benavidez.

Jose Benavidez Sr., his father, stepped up further, claiming that his son is moving on from his feud with Alvarez. He told Izquierdazo, “I have bad news for everybody: there will not be a fight between David Benavidez and Canelo. Forget about that fight. We have other horizons.”

Read More: David Benavidez Sends Ultimatum to Canelo Alvarez

What will happen once ‘Canelo’ is done with the Bivol business? Would he make an exception to the stand taken on compatriot boxers and fight Benavidez, who’s a ‘Mexican-Ecudorian, born in the United States?’ The answers to the questions remain elusive. But the ones to lose out in the bargain undeniably would be thousands of fans and followers who yearn for such a fight.

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What is your opinion? Do you think ‘Canelo’ and Benavidez fight should happen? Do share your views and ideas with us in the comments below.