Stephen A. Smith Accused Canelo Alvarez of Avoiding ‘Mandatory’ David Benavidez Weeks Before Major Announcement

Stephen A. Smith is agitated, and no one is happy that Canelo Alvarez has overlooked the man waiting for him for years now. Rumors are that the Mexican champion has avoided David Benavidez, again. This time in favor of Jermall Charlo. While the fans are far from pleased, Stephen A. Smith is “pretty pissed off.”

The famed American presenter, an ardent boxing fan, vented out his frustration in an almost two weeks-old episode of the ESPN show, First Take. The rumors of the super middleweight champion not fighting ‘The Mexican Monster’ set him off. While he believes boxing promoters hold the fans hostage, there is a man who has fixed the same issues in different sports: Dana White.

Canelo Alvarez faces the wrath of Stephen A. Smith

David Benavidez has been the WBC mandatory for almost two years now. But Canelo Alvarez has shied away from granting him his hard-earned right. “Canelo Alvarez, how many fights are you going to have before you avoid giving Benavidez the chance he so richly deserves? I’m really ticked off about it. It ain’t right! It ain’t right!” Smith asked in a rage.

Importing an opponent from another division, according to Smith, is not right. Citing Benavidez’s credentials as a super middleweight at 28-0 with 24 knockouts, Smith expressed, “Canelo Alvarez has been avoiding him. Now, this is not right. This is the problem about… This is why I love Dana White so much with the UFC.”

Following this, Smith drew parallels between boxing and the UFC. While the boxing promoters make fans wait for years, the UFC head honcho gives fans what they want. Fans have a larger say.

Dana White puts fans first?

Smith pointed out that when the public clamors for a fight, that fight happens in the UFC. One cannot avoid the other fighter for years and not fight, something Canelo Alvarez is guilty of. If there is any altercation, it gets settled in the Octagon.

“You get into an argument in the streets, Dana White is like, ‘you are gonna got to Octagon. We are gonna get paid for this. You are gonna settle this in damn Octagon’,” Smith concluded. Dana White has mastered the art of matchmaking and doesn’t hesitate to arrange super fights. Meanwhile, super fights are rare in boxing, and the fans only have their say when the fight has been long overdue.

Read More: “He’ll Do Anything to Stay Away”: Jose Benavidez Sr. Calls Out “Scared” Canelo Alvarez for Avoiding David Benavidez Fight, Demands Sanctioning Bodies to Be Fair

What do you make of these comments by Stephen A. Smith? Do you agree with him that the UFC is better at catering to fans’ demands? Let us know in the comments below.

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