KEY POINTS

  • Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's team is not interested in fighting David Benavidez
  • Benavidez wants Alvarez to let him fight for the super middleweight titles if he's really moving up in weight
  • The Mexican is reportedly willing to move back to middleweight in a bout against either Jermall Charlo or Gennadiy Golovkin

David Benavidez is crystal clear about how he wants to claim super middleweight supremacy.

Before the past year ended, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s team revealed their real stance on a super middleweight bout against Benavidez.

According to Alvarez’s longtime trainer Eddy Reynoso, Benavidez is not on their radar as he is a “mediocre” who “has not beaten anyone” in the division.

Sharing his thoughts on the matter, Benavidez stressed that even if Alvarez’s camp insisted that they have no interest in him, it’s the “people” who want to see the fight happen.

“They can say what they want to say, but at the end of the day I’m still winning my fights, I’m still number one in the super middleweight division, and the people are gonna keep calling for that fight,” Benavidez said in an interview on the “Calling Russ Anber” podcast .

Saul Canelo Alvarez became the first Mexican and first super middleweight to hold all four belts simultaneously
Saul Canelo Alvarez became the first Mexican and first super middleweight to hold all four belts simultaneously AFP / Patrick T. FALLON

The 25-year-old went on to emphasize that he still wants his “shot” at Alvarez.

Should the Mexican superstar decides to move up to either light heavyweight or cruiserweight, he must vacate his super middleweight titles and let him fight for it.

“If [Canelo’s] he’s going to be at 168, he has to fight me,” he pointed out. “If he’s not going to be at 168, vacate all his titles. He can pick and choose if he’s going to 175 or if he’s going to go to 200 pounds, or whatever he’s going to do. He can do whatever he wants to do. If people are saying he’s picking and choosing that’s for other people to say.”

“My main focus is the titles,” he continued. “So if he’s not going to fight he needs to vacate the titles and let me fight for the titles.”

"I take nothing away from Canelo. He’s the best pound-for-pound right now. I feel like he’s really good. Like I said I still want my shot at him. I still feel he has yet to face somebody like me in the super middleweight division. I’m fast, strong, young, I throw body shots, punches in bunches. I feel like I give him the best fight. I feel like I can beat Canelo 100%. I just need my opportunity.”

Alvarez has got his sights on crack at the cruiserweight title, while some in his circle urge him to dominate the light heavyweight division first.

As for another run in the middleweight division, Alvarez’s team is considering either Jermall Charlo or a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin.

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin
Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin could have their third fight if both fighters are on DAZN. In this picture, Golovkin punches Alvarez during their WBC/WBA middleweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Sept. 15, 2018. Al Bello/Getty Images
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