David Benavidez feels he’s being treated unfairly by the WBC with them giving him ten days to decide whether he’ll stay at 175 or return to 168 after his fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the World Boxing Council interim light heavyweight title on June 15th.
Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) thinks the WBC should give him more time to decide whether he’ll return to 168 and resume being the mandatory for Canelo Alvarez’s title with that organization.
It probably doesn’t matter that the WBC is only giving Benavidez 10 days because Canelo isn’t expected to fight him unless someone meets his asking price of 150-200 million.
Now campaigning at 175, Benavidez says the only fight he wants at 168 is Canelo, and he won’t return to the division for anyone else.
Benavidez is fighting on the undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin on June 15th on Amazon Prime Video PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Staying at 175 or Returning to 168?
“Definitely, I earned my right to campaign for the title. The WBC, I think it’s unfair that they’re only giving me ten days to decide if I’m staying at 175 or 168,” said David Benavidez to Fighthype when asked if he’ll return to 168 if he has a chance to fight Canelo Alvarez after he faces Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th in their clash for the WBC interim 175-lb title.
Benavidez won’t get the Canelo fight, so he needs to make the best of things at 175, and if not there, cruiserweight might be a good option. With Benavidez’s frame, he could easily move up to heavyweight and follow in Oleksandr Usyk’s footsteps. He probably should have never been at 168 in the first place, given how huge he is.
“I haven’t gotten the opportunity for three years, but we’ll make the decision [whether to return to 168] after the fight [against Gvozdyk]. But definitely, if we can make the fight happen, that’s a fight that we all want to see,” said Benavidez.
Fans Will Decide: Berlanga or Benavidez?
“I’ll leave it up to the fans for them to decide which fight they want to see,” said Benavidez when asked about his thoughts on WBA mandatory Edgar Berlanga, telling everyone he’s next for Canelo in September.
The fans obviously would prefer that Canelo fight Benavidez rather than Berlanga, but it looks like the New Yorker will be getting the opportunity. He’s with promoter Eddie Hearn and it’s an easy fight for Canelo.
“I’m not ducking nobody. I see he’s going up to 175, so potentially we could have that fight,” said Benavidez, reacting to being told that David Morrell said that he’s ducking him. “The only fight I’m staying around at 168 is for Canelo. I’m done at 168.”
Benavidez comes across as hypocritical. He feels Canelo is ducking him, yet he’s doing the same thing with David Morrell. Put it this way: If Canelo were just a no-name fighter with an unbeaten record with zero fans, would Benavidez be eager to fight him? He wants that payday and the popularity that comes with it afterward.
Benavidez: Canelo or Nothing at 168
“If not for Canelo, I’m not going down to 168. I was there for ten years at the pinnacle to fight for all the belts, and they didn’t give me the opportunity,” said Benavidez.
Well, it’s safe to say, Benavidez is officially done at 168 because he’s not getting a fight against Canelo, and there’s no one else for him to face in that division if money is the only thing he’s interested in.
“So now we’re moving up too 175. But definitely, that’s a very lucrative fight, me and David Morrell. He’s the best with PBC, so let’s make it happen,” said Benavidez.
