Too ‘Arrogant’ for His Own Good, Canelo Alvarez Won’t Borrow Floyd Mayweather’s Tactics to Beat David Benavidez

Despite attempts, which include call-outs and mandatory elevation, the David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez fight has remained an elusive dream. The popular narrative prescribes that the moves, predominantly from the Benavidez camp, have failed to rouse the Mexican icon’s interest. With no signs of the fight coming his way, David Benavidez finally decided to make a move up a division. He will face Oleksandr Gvozdyk at the MGM Grand Arena next weekend for the interim light heavyweight title.

He has frequently spoken at length about the frustrations he felt in not getting the fight he wanted so badly. Benavidez joined former UFC champions and legends Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo in the latest episode of their increasingly popular podcast, ‘Pound4Pound’. During the discussion, a thought came to mind. What if Canelo Alvarez had borrowed something from his former opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s playbook and fought ‘The Mexican Monster’? But David Benavidez still retains his suspicions. Why? Let’s check it out.

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As the show neared the half-hour mark, he explained that the chances of fighting Canelo Alvarez remained dim. But he tries to remain positive about the whole situation. “The more he (Canelo Alvarez) pushes this fight off, the bigger this fight gets. The more experience I’m getting, the better I’m getting. He’s getting older. I’m barely coming into my prime, you know what I mean. So it’s just that I just got to I just got to stay focused,” he said.

Kamaru Usman concurred. He gave his own explanation. Often, a person sitting at the top misses the right signals. They may not have bothered to give it due thought. But then he added. It is precisely the area where Floyd Mayweather Jr. outsmarted almost everyone many years ago. He picked his fights wisely. “He understood that, you know,” said the former UFC welterweight champion. Hence, many fans would rather wish if only Alvarez followed ‘The Money’s suit: “and understand that maybe I should get this guy out of here while he’s young.”

However, it seemingly failed to convince ‘The Mexican Monster’. He said, “I think he’s just so arrogant that he thinks that I’m not sh*t, you know what I mean.” Usman pointed out that this might not be the case. Canelo Alvarez may not be trying to put down Benavidez deliberately. The Phoenix-born super middleweight champion emphasized, “He tries to say it in person, but he knows to himself.”

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ then clarified. As one of the faces of boxing, it is expected of Canelo Alvarez to play down the achievements of a rival. However, deep inside his heart, he must be having the epiphany that the said person could be his eventual nemesis.

Yesterday’s Canelo Alvarez, today’s David Benavidez

Come September 13, it will be the eleventh anniversary of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez fight. At the time, the former held the position that the latter currently holds. A recognized champion, a boxing great, the face of the sport, and whatnot. But Alvarez’s position could be comparable to what David Benavidez is today. An upcoming star, already having a few titles in his kitty, is young and hungry. 13 years separated the two in age. The two even fought at 152-pound catchweight.

However, a bigger fact remains. An established title holder gave a not-so-well-known name a chance to make a breakthrough. Questions persist over the opponents he picked. But, till the time he retired, Floyd Mayweather Jr. continued to go after the big names in boxing. Be it Manny Pacquiao to Conor McGregor, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, or Miguel Cotto, ‘The Money’ chased heavy hands. Probably, as Kamaru Usman suggested, there is a lesson to be gained from the whole Mayweather game plan that Canelo Alvarez could actually utilize. A fight with David Benavidez might as well be a win-win situation.

What’s your take? Is it high time Canelo Alvarez just said yes to a David Benavidez fight?