Canelo Alvarez is an all-time great, and at this stage of his career and life, he moves at his own pace. He refuses to be accelerated by anything or anyone, and that includes David Benavidez, one of the many who seek to meet him in the ring.
I spoke to Canelo this week about Benavidez’s approach and his pursuit of the Mexican icon.
I asked Canelo what annoyed him about the 28-year-old interim light heavyweight champion’s style.
“You know, I don’t really know how to answer this question, but I think the way he talks, he thinks he’s Superman, right?” Canelo said in our interview on Zoom. “And he is very disrespectful—not just with me, with everybody. And he’s accomplished nothing. He’s not even a champion, and he’s not even in my weight class already. And you know, it’s a lot of things there that don’t make sense. And plus, at this point in my career, I can do whatever I want. And you guys can’t take anything away from my career, from my legacy, from anything. Because, you know, if you see my résumé, I fought everybody out there—all the elite fighters out there. So I’m very good with my résumé.”
Like former opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr., who Canelo identified as a “great fighter” during our conversation, the Mexican icon has reached a point in his career that produces a level of liberation most fighters never get to enjoy.
Canelo has had so much in-ring and financial success that he no longer has to run to build a legacy or fortune for himself. That is already secured.
Canelo’s level of vulnerability to the criticism that has come from his unwillingness to fight Benavidez is based on how much he cares about what people have to say.
And believe me, there is a ton of chatter.
The very first comment on the video is a pro-Benavidez comment, and it is not without merit.
One commenter said:
“How do you want Benavidez to accomplish something IF YOU, CANELO, IS NOT EVEN GIVING HIM A CHANCE TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING when he was in your weight class?” the commenter exclaimed. “What a (clown emoji), OMG.
Canelo is holding the belts hostage and not letting others have a chance at the titles. [Edgar] Berlanga was not more deserving than [David] Morrell Jr., who had been the mandatory for years. [Jaime] Munguia was not more deserving than Benavidez, who was his mandatory for 4 years. It’s embarrassing at this point. Canelo always discredits the dangerous fighters who are right up next for a title shot. When they are not skilled enough, he fights them with no hesitation.”
One key point that Canelo—and some other great fighters I’ve spoken to—sometimes realize is that there will always be another guy. There will always be a guy that the public and boxing community wants them to fight.
At some point, they have to evolve into being businessmen that box, and not remain fighters who don’t understand business. That’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who simply want to see fights. But I never blame a fighter for reaching this level, especially when they have accomplished as much as Canelo and others of his ilk.
Canelo’s next fight is scheduled for May 3. He will face IBF super middleweight champion William Scull. Canelo comes in as the WBO and WBC champion at 168 pounds, and he is looking to unify three-fourths of the titles in the division.
