David Benavidez is the man of the hour. He did what was needed against Demetrius Andrade and ended the night spectacularly. A brutal and devastating march to victory was all the Mexican fighter required to ensure he stayed in contention to fight Canelo Alvarez. He did the same, but despite pulling off a dominant win, his dream fight remains a distant reality. Are fans ever going to witness Alvarez vs. Benavidez? Or will the fight get lost in piles of rumors, provocations, and challenges?

The WBC interim super middleweight champion stamped his ticket to fight Canelo Alvarez this past Saturday. He believes he is next to fight him. The same is reflected when he declared during the post-fight interview, “I’ve been winning the fights I was supposed to win in fantastic fashion. He [Canelo Alvarez] has nobody else to fight. If they want to give it to me now, later, or whenever. I’m not going nowhere.”

David Benavidez: fans and ‘Mexican Monster’ want the Canelo Alvarez fight next

Benavidez has been chasing a fight with Alvarez for years to cash in millions and carve his name in the history books. The 26-year-old, a former two-time world champion, has put opponents after opponents to the dust. He continues to boost his resume and chances to meet Alvarez in the square circle.

Given the performance he turned in, Benavidez rightly believes the Canelo Alvarez fight should be in the making. Terence Crawford, who himself has flirted with the idea of a fight with Alvarez, has similar opinions. Advising Benavidez to tighten the defense, ‘Bud’ told Fight Hype, “He looked spectacular. He did wonderful. A++… He’s good. He’s ready for Canelo.”

However, things are not as straight as they appear. A bout between Alvarez and Benavidez might be the biggest fight in boxing right now, promising to generate great PPV numbers. But that might not take place for a year.

What’s the hold-up with the Alvarez-Benavidez fight?

The rumor mill suggests that Alvarez will square off against Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) in May for a Cinco de Mayo event. That dashes any hopes of Benavidez facing Alvarez at the earliest. Besides, he might find himself at the end of a long list that includes the likes of Jermall Charlo, Dmitry Bivol, and Artur Beterbiev.

Throw Terence Crawford in the mix, and it becomes a roadblock in the middle. Meanwhile, critics have pointed out that Benavidez has yet to clear out the competition in the 168-pound division. Benavidez has previously fought Caleb Plant, David Lemieux, Kyrone Davis, and Ronald Ellis, and none of them is a title-assuring bout.

If Benavidez has to turn heads, he might have to hand a defeat to WBA super middleweight champion David Morrell. However, Benavidez, at 28-0, is not sticking around forever to have a go at Canelo Alvarez. He is ready to move up to 175.

Maybe a crackdown at 175 instead of Canelo Alvarez?

Benavidez is ready to look past Alvarez and has already set his eyes on Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs). ‘The Red Flag’ won’t make his stay at 175 permanent, and he is willing to be back at 168 for the fight he deeply desires. “I feel that once I move up to 175, I’ll have to see how I feel. But I’ll definitely come back down,” he told the media.

The Dmitry Bivol fight might turn out to be an excellent matchup for Benavidez, as Bivol lacks the power behind those punches. Benavidez’s encounter with Andrade suggests you can’t escape Benavidez in the later rounds. Something that might trouble Bivol if he fails to finish the fight early. The Russian has not been pushed to the limit yet.

Read More: “It’s Not That Easy”: Jermall Charlo Relives Personal Memory While Detailing Downside of Fighting on Same Card as His Brother Ahead of David Benavidez vs Demetrius Andrade Fight

Further, Benavidez has sparred with Bivol before. He knows he can beat the WBA light heavyweight champion. Moving up might aid Benavidez, as he has a bigger frame than Bivol. “These are the types of chances I want to take in my career. I just want to be the best, and I know I’m going to accomplish that,” Benavidez confidently declares.

What do you make of David Benavidez still chasing the Canelo Alvarez fight? Do you believe it is the fight to make? Let us know in the comments below.

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