Canelo Alvarez Might Be Risking His Legacy if He Fails To Fight David Benavidez

A 15-year-old kid steps into the squared circle at Arena Chololo Larios, Tonalá, sizes up his significantly older rival, and leaves him face flat on the canvas in 2005. He does it again after 30 days. That’s the first introduction of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez to the boxing world. Almost 18 years and 64 fights later, he is now the face of boxing. However, it seems he might risk losing his reputation and legacy if he doesn’t put one particular name down: David Benavidez.

Since making it to the pinnacle of the super middleweight division, Benavidez has been hotly pursuing Alvarez. Despite the fight being on the cards for more than two years, the champion is uninterested in fighting ‘The Mexican Monster’. The fans’ and Benavidez’s patience ran thin. Even thinner is Alvarez’s safety net against his legacy. “Canelo Alvarez will make his legacy, and his legacy will be stained, because he did not fight the best at this time, which is Benavidez,” Sampson Lewkowicz, Benavidez’s promoter, declares. But how much truth lies in this statement?

Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez: Avoiding peers at 168, fighting outsiders

The Guadalajara native had one of the most spectacular 12-month runs in modern boxing when he bagged all the gold straps at 168. It started with Callum Smith and ended with Caleb Plant. Alvarez crushed Avni Yildirim and Billy Joe Saunders in between. But since then, his choice of opponents has raised eyebrows.

The Mexican champion endeavored to add another title against Dmitry Bivol, who appeared rusty in his last three fights and was seen as ripe for plucking. He then picked a beyond-his-prime Gennady Golovkin, and an aged John Ryder. Soon, a fight with Jermell Charlo followed, who jumped two divisions to make the fight. The critics have accused Alvarez of cherry-picking his opponents and safeguarding all his marbles, which helps him secure a larger sum.

In addition, it has been a while since Alvarez fought anyone from the 168-pound division ranks. His reluctance to not fight anyone from the ranks and the recent rumors of importing Jermall Charlo has shaken fans’ belief in him. At 33, he is still much at his prime, and the attempts to desperately cling to titles and prioritize money over fans have put him in a flux. Alvarez’s attitude as a champion has also been questioned, as fans want him to face Benavidez, the legitimate challenger to his crown.

Not walking a champion’s path

Undoubtedly, Alvarez has done enough to cement his legacy as one of the modern greats, receiving the baton from Julio Cesar Chavez. But currently, it’s not about who is backing up his business decisions or how big of an event he can pull off. It’s about doing his duty as a champion, giving his mandatory challenger a shot at the title, and putting up a show for the fans they want.

Moreover, Alvarez doesn’t have the choice to fight anyone he pleases. He can’t stand tall against the rules and regulations of boxing. Even if the WBC decides to toe his line, the fans and records would suggest that he failed to fight one of the best. Contrary to what Julio Cesar Chavez believes, Alvarez has not done enough for boxing to dictate his terms.

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Otherwise, Alvarez needs to vacate the belts, so he doesn’t block the other fighters’ careers and their shot at belts. It’s something that Floyd Mayweather Jr. did when he wanted to chase money. Holding the belts hostage is a bad look. The critics raise a similar case, disputing whether the undisputed champion is running around from a possibly worse matchup.

Can one fight undo what Canelo Alvarez has done for 18 years?

Well, the short answer is no. Benavidez is not a legacy fighter. But Alvarez needs to add him to the list of his victims. The point is not whether Benavidez defeats Alvarez or not. But Alvarez’s legacy hinges on the current perception of him ducking an explosive fighter.

We can’t think of any name with a better resume than him. He fought with ‘Money’ at 22 and agreed to a catchweight disadvantage against him. Alvarez moved up and defeated Gennady Golovkin, who was a brutal, undefeated middleweight champion in his prime in 2018. For a boxer who started at 147 as a pro and became a champion in 4 weight classes, Alvarez’s legacy is set in stone. But he might taint it by not giving fans what they want and avoiding a worthy and mandatory challenger while he can still pull some punches.

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 Canelo Alvarez turning down David Benavidez for a title shot? Do you believe he is putting a blemish on his legacy? Let us know in the comments below.