It's the same story, this time louder. David Benavidez is not holding back, and his latest comments aimed at Canelo Alvarez are easily his most direct to date. In a recent interview, the undefeated contender didn't dance around it. He questioned Canelo's desire to fight him and made it clear that he still viewed that matchup as unfinished business.
"He's scared, he has no balls. That's the thing. I give Canelo total respect... but I was the #1 contender in two weight classes for a long time."
That tension has been building for years. Benavidez, now 30-0 with 24 knockouts, has consistently topped the super middleweight division. At one point, he held the WBC interim title and sat as a mandatory challenger, yet the fight never came to fruition.
"He's shown he doesn't want to fight me. It's a real shame because it's a fight everyone wants to see."
David Benavidez vs. Canelo Alvarez: A fight that never came together
On paper this was the fight. Two Mexican stars. Same division. High stakes. Huge interest from fans.
But boxing rarely goes according to script.
Canelo Alvarez, now 35, has built his career around big names and calculated moves. He became a four-division world champion and one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in the sport. Nevertheless, Benavidez believes that despite earning his position he was constantly ignored.
The situation changed even further last year after Canelo lost his undisputed super middleweight title to Terence Crawford. That loss changed the division and, in some ways, changed the urgency of the Benavidez fight.
Now, with Canelo Alvarez planning a comeback later this year and reportedly knocking out both Benavidez and Dmitry Bivol, that long-awaited clash is looking less likely than ever.
Benavidez moves forward but doesn't let go
This is where things get interesting. Benavidez isn't waiting any longer, calling out Canelo Alvarez still.
He is going up.
The 28-year-old is set to face Gilberto Ramirez at cruiserweight on May 2, a serious step up to a heavier and more dangerous division. It's not just a fight to stay busy, either. Ramirez holds the major titles, and a win would immediately legitimize Benavidez at 200 pounds.
Benavidez even claimed that he tried to make the Canelo fight a financial success, saying that he had offered $150 million which went nowhere. Whether those numbers hold up or not, it shows just how far he was willing to go to secure the fight.
Still the tone did not change.
"I have 100% confidence in myself and my skills. If he says he's the baddest man on the planet, why not give the fans what they want to see?"
the window might be closing
At this point, it seems like one of those feuds that remains more in debate than reality.
Benavidez is moving to a different weight class. Canelo Alvarez is choosing his path carefully. The time that once made this fight right is beginning to slip away.
Promoters know this. The fans definitely feel it.
And if Benavidez wins at cruiserweight, the conversation could completely change. He will no longer pursue Canelo. He might be making something new.
Still, this rivalry won't be completely over until both fighters battle it out. Too much history. Too much conversation. And honestly, a lot of people still want to see it happen.
