David Benavidez believes his long-desired fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is getting closer to becoming a reality.
Alvarez asked for $200 million to face Benavidez, seemingly outside his own budget, but the undisputed super middleweight champion's offer wasn't rejected outright.
“I feel like it's coming soon. I don't know when, but it's becoming more and more realistic,” Benavidez told BoxingScene. “Canelo could end up with $200 million and we could get the fight that we've all wanted. It's very exciting news for us. We just need to keep working hard and be ready for the opportunity. When the opportunity comes, I'll take full advantage of it.”
The teams for Alvarez and Benavidez have not been able to reach an agreement in recent years, and a fight between the two would likely require financial backing from Saudi Arabia's boxing strongman, Turki Alarshik, the country's general sports authority.
“When we first negotiated, they wanted to pay me a flat fee of $5 million, and I was totally fine with that,” Benavidez said. “Right now, I'm not asking for much money for these fights. Money is not important to me. What's important to me is to do my job 100% and the money will come. I'm not worried about how much I'll get, because after I beat Canelo, the money and everything else will come. Right now, I don't see this fight as a one-fight, cash-out deal. After I beat him, he'll want a rematch, and then I'll be a PPV star.”
Benavidez is preparing to make his light heavyweight debut on June 15 against former titleholder and Alvarez sparring partner Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who is managed by Alvarez's lifelong coach and confidant, Eddy Reynoso.
Alvarez, a former light heavyweight titleholder, has previously joked that the naturally heavier Benavidez brings nothing to the table except an extra 25 pounds on fight day.
Benavidez said he plans to move back down to 168 pounds if Alvarez is available to fight, adding that he would abide by the rehydration clause but not a catchweight.
“anything [the terms are]”I just want this fight to happen, unless it's something stupid,” Benavidez said. “If he's not really afraid of me, if he's really going to knock me out, if he's going to do what he says he's going to do, there's no need for a catchweight. He didn't impose a rehydration clause. [Dmitry] “But if they ask for a rehydration clause, I'll do it. But I won't impose a catchweight clause. It's already hard to get to 168 pounds. If he's confident in his skills, I'll go for it and hope the best guy wins.”
Alvarez previously told Boxing Scene: He's not interested They forced Benavidez to agree to a rehydration clause.
Benavidez is adamant that he will move his career forward with or without Alvarez.
“I'm done with 168 pounds. I got the opportunity to fight Canelo Alvarez, but that fight is gone, so I don't have another opportunity to fight at 168 pounds. I want to try out for 175 pounds, and this is the perfect opportunity.” [against Gvozdyk]” Benavides said.
“I want to be champion at 168 pounds, 175 pounds and cruiserweight. Once I get through the cruiserweight door, I'll see if I can go to heavyweight. Maybe it'll be something.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He is also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association. He can be reached at @ManoukAkopyan on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, or by email at manouk.[dot]Acopian[at]You can contact us at gmail.com or www.ManoukAkopyan.com
