You know how it goes: a strong team, big money behind you, the right connections, and some heavy hitters on your roster—and boom, you’ve got a real powerhouse in the fight game. And let’s be honest, Eddie Hearn knows exactly how to play that game. He’s been doing it for over a decade and has become one of the most influential promoters in the sport. The man knows the boxing business inside and out. But now? The heat’s on.

Dmitry Bivol—fresh off his massive win over the previously undefeated Artur Beterbiev—is being called out by fans for not jumping into a fight with David Benavidez. Some are saying he has ducked the dangerous 30-0 fighter with 24 knockouts. They’re pointing fingers, claiming Bivol is dodging a challenge that could mess with his spotless reputation and legacy. And that’s where Eddie Hearn steps in—to defend his guy and set the record straight. “To think that Dmitry Bivol would avoid David Benavidez is one of the strangest agendas I’ve heard peddled,” he told FightHub TV earlier today.

But let’s not forget, even though Bivol ain’t the one to fight Benavidez, Hearn already pulled out another name from the Matchroom stable to make a point: Callum Smith. Now, Smith had been eyeing a move up to cruiserweight, looking to take on WBC champion Badou Jack. However, now that Benavidez is in the mix, Callum Smith’s not backing down. Hearn said the 34-year-old is more than willing to fight Benavidez too. That’s a big deal because a lot of top names didn’t even entertain the idea of facing Benavidez when it first came up. Smith? He’s all in. “I am sure many fighters don’t really like to fight with Benavidez,” Eddie Hearn pointed out straight.

He added, “We’re now talking to Luis de Cubas and PBC about fighting David Benavidez. Do you think Callum Smith’s avoiding David Benavidez? No!” In fact, Hearn stated the Mundo’s totally down and “well up for the fight.” Now, yes—some fighters in the past may have steered clear of Benavidez (let’s be real, the guy’s a nightmare in the ring). But lumping everyone into that category? Hearn’s not having it, especially when it comes to someone like Bivol, who’s got a solid resume and a fearless mindset.

And here’s the other layer—Hearn mentioned that Matchroom had already committed to a third fight for Bivol. So even if they wanted to throw Bivol into a clash with Benavidez right now, their hands are kinda tied. Plus, they made a promise, and Hearn’s big on honoring that—especially out of respect for His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who’s played a major role in organizing fights in Saudi Arabia for his fighters.

In short? Eddie Hearn’s saying: stop the ducking rumors. Dmitry Bivol’s not scared. Callum Smith’s not scared. And yeah, that David Benavidez fight? It could still very much happen—just not until they fulfill the commitments already in place. Now, if you still wonder why some of the boxers don’t want to fight David Benavidez, the Mexican champion might have an answer for that.

David Benavidez holds himself in high regard

David Benavidez might want to brace himself, because of what Canelo Álvarez just said. Yeah, it’s bound to sting. In a recent Zoom interview with FightHype’s Brian Mazique, the unified super middleweight king didn’t hold back when asked why the long-hyped fight with David Benavidez never materialized. And if you thought it was about contracts or money—think again. This was personal.

At first, Canelo Alvarez looked like he was about to dodge the question. “I don’t really know how to answer this question,” he said. But then he did. And when he did, it was clear: he’s just not a fan of Benavidez.

“The way he talks, he thinks he’s Superman,” Canelo said, visibly annoyed. But that wasn’t all—he took it a step further. “He’s very disrespect, not just with me, with everybody,” Ouch. According to the 62-2 future Hall of Famer, this isn’t just trash talk—it’s a matter of respect. And in his eyes, David Benavidez hasn’t shown any.

Then came the knockout punch—Canelo questioned whether David Benavidez had even earned the right to call him out. “He has accomplished nothing. He’s not even a champion. And he’s not even in my weight class already.” Translation? Canelo doesn’t see the Phoenix native as a threat… or even as someone on his level.

Now the question is… how is David Benavidez going to respond to that? Because if we know anything about him, he’s not going to take this quietly. Do you think Dmitry Bivol is actually avoiding David Benavidez, or is the timing just not right yet? Do let us know your thoughts with us below.