David Benavidez still believes he can earn a fight with Canelo Alvarez in 2025, but only at a catchweight.
Benavidez has been campaigning for a showdown with bitter rival Alvarez for several years, including when he was eventually declared mandatory challenger at 168lbs with the WBC.
Benavidez still wants Alvarez despite facing a long waitGetty
But so far ‘The Monster’ has missed out on his shot and is now competing at 175lbs, where he made his successful debut against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June.
He could well be in line to face the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol which takes place for the undisputed titles on October 12.
And Benavidez believes he could convince Alvarez to finally accept the fight if he captures all the marbles at his new weight and orders a middle ground.
“Canelo, he says that I can’t offer him nothing,” Benavidez said.
“I think Canelo’s a great fighter. I believe in myself. I believe I can beat the s**t out of him.
“Now, if I have all four major world titles at 175, in my head that’s the only way the fight’s gonna happen.
“I’m already number one in line to fight for all four belts at 175 against the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol.
“I win all four belts, it’d be a great fight and maybe we could do a catchweight, you can put the 168 pound belts, I can put the 175 pound belts and we can fight together, winner take all.”
It is unlikely that a shot at catchweight would be sanctioned for the belts, but Alvarez’s future is not yet clear.
Current pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford is also campaigning for a shot at the Mexican, and stepped up to to become a four-weight champion at 154lbs.
Canelo hasn’t yet fully entertained a clash with BenavidezGetty
He has repeatedly suggested he is ready for the clash, which would likely provide significant financial incentive for both men.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has expressed interest in making the mega-fight, but talks are on hold for now.
Alvarez has previously stated he could demand up to $200million to face Benavidez, seemingly making a clash with Crawford more likely.
And former world champion Paulie Malignaggi insists the fight simply will not happen.
“I don’t care who Canelo fights if he would vacate the titles,” Malignaggi said on talkBOXING.
“Personally, I’ve been saying this for two years, I think David Benavidez runs him over like a train running over a car that’s stuck in the train tracks.
“I stick with that. His apprehension to fight the mandatory continuously only cements my opinion.
“I don’t think he’s gonna fight Benavidez, the only reason I wanna see him fight Benavidez is for the belts because I don’t even think it would be a good fight.
“I’m more excited about other things than I am about Canelo.”
