SAUL ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is on the peak of his powers and has the choose of his opponents. Jaime Munguia (field ticked on Saturday night time), Edgar Berlanga, Jermall Charlo and extra.
But one man’s identify is inextricably linked to Canelo. David Benavidez stays the battle followers’ opponent of selection. The one all of them wish to see him sort out subsequent.
A pure rivalry that has matured and developed from afar. Complementary kinds destined to provide fireworks. Described by Mike Tyson because the “Mexican monster”, Benavidez walks ahead, chews folks up and spits them out.
As he limbers up for a conflict with Oleksandr Gvozdyk, the Phoenix finisher is match, targeted and refreshed for his June 15 project in a brand new weight class.
“I really feel actually good. I’ve spent a very long time on the identical weight, and now I feel it’s the proper time to do that. I’m coaching onerous, I’m actually motivated, it’s an important card and we’re prepared for the battle,” stated Benavidez as he acclimatises to light-heavyweight, for now…
“I’m rising, I’m getting greater, doing a bit extra weight coaching. I’m coaching quite a bit and I’m prepared for this battle. I’ve been coaching for 3 months, and I nonetheless have a month and a half to go earlier than I’m 100 per cent prepared for the battle.”
Transferring as much as 175 kilos just isn’t the one change Benavidez has made. Relocating from Seattle to Miami, after shopping for a home within the space, has led Benavidez to coach in a brand new atmosphere. Legendary fitness center mates like Guillermo Rigondeaux and Andre Dirrell present loads of studying alternatives and help throughout camp.
He’ll want each final ounce of knowledge if King Canelo is to be dislodged from his throne. No matter which division it occurs in, preventing the Mexican icon stays on high of David’s hit record.
“I used to be in place for 3 years, I’m his necessary. He’s saying he needs 200 million to battle me [or more], however I already did my work,” stated a bullish Benavidez.
“He doesn’t wish to battle me. There’s nothing I can do. We’re going up in weight. We’ll see what occurs later. The followers are calling for this battle. It’s the one battle all of them wish to see. I hope it might occur sooner or later, however now I’m targeted on the battle I’ve on the fifteenth of June.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 04: Jaime Munguia lands a proper towards Canelo Alvarez of their tremendous middleweight championship title battle at T-Cell Area on Could 04, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Pictures)
On Could 4 in Las Vegas, Benavidez was ringside to as soon as once more witness Canelo’s greatness first-hand. Adapting and adjusting, Canelo, 33, dropped the newest pretender, Jaime Munguia, in spherical 4 with a scorching uppercut.
The battle’s trajectory swiftly spun in a distinct route. In spherical 12, Canelo shocked Munguia as soon as extra. Fairly than stepping in for the kill, Alvarez seemingly stepped off and allowed Jaime to see out the battle and proceed his profession with a single blemish on the report – on factors relatively than by stoppage.
Defending all 4 belts at 168, Canelo has comfortably slotted into super-middleweight after an unsuccessful flirtation with 175. Defeating a light Sergey Kovalev was one factor.
Returning to the division towards Dmitry Bivol confirmed that measurement issues and that weight courses exist for a purpose. Regardless of his sizeable body, maybe Benavidez could be open to dropping seven kilos to make the tremendous battle occur.
“If they are saying the battle has been made, I’ll come down, but when not, there’s no purpose to come back down,” reasoned ‘El Bandera Roja’.
“Effectively, to be trustworthy, I feel it may be made. The one factor we want is for Canelo to determine if he needs the battle. It’s not troublesome; everybody needs it, so let’s see what occurs.
“I do nonetheless suppose it might occur in September however we’re going to win this battle first [versus Gvozdyk], and let’s see what occurs then.”
Canelo acknowledged post-Munguia {that a} Benavidez conflict would come all the way down to chilly, onerous money, so David floated the potential for a crowdfunding enterprise to get it over the road.
“I used to be joking, but when that’s what’s wanted to make the battle, it needs to be made,” grinned Benavidez, who grinds victims down to go and physique, similar to his modern-day nemesis – in Mexican model.
“Effectively, I feel I characterize Mexican fighters. I commerce, I prefer to battle. I feel Canelo does the identical, so we each have the identical model,” he added.
