“David Benavidez Acknowledges Canelo Alvarez’s Boxing Greatness Despite Bitter Rivalry”
David Benavidez, the WBC Interim Super Middleweight champion, has long been vocal about his desire to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the ring. Despite their simmering rivalry and accusations of ducking, Benavidez recently set aside his personal grievances to recognize Alvarez’s stature as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite. This unexpected acknowledgment came during a podcast appearance where Benavidez discussed the top fighters in the sport today.
Appearing on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with hosts Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Benavidez initially ranked the top pound-for-pound fighters, placing Naoya Inoue at the pinnacle. He then positioned Oleksandr Usyk and Gervonta Davis before finally placing Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. This ranking signaled Benavidez’s respect for Alvarez’s achievements in the ring, despite their adversarial relationship outside of it.
When questioned about his own exclusion from the list, Benavidez humbly admitted that he believes he has yet to earn such recognition, stating, “Until I become the world champion again or unify some champions, I don’t really believe I deserve to be on that list. I want to earn it.”
Benavidez further added, “Three is Gervonta Davis, four is Canelo, and five Crawford. No, no, no, no Crawford is four and Canelo is five.”
While Benavidez expressed respect for Alvarez’s skills, he hasn’t shied away from critiquing the Mexican fighter’s career choices. In another podcast appearance on ‘Million Dollarz Worth of Game’, Benavidez scrutinized Alvarez’s legacy, particularly referencing the controversial clenbuterol incident after the first Golovkin fight in 2017. Benavidez’s comments suggested lingering skepticism about Alvarez’s achievements, citing the performance-enhancing drug issue as a point of contention.
Benavidez said, “I think I’m a boxing fan at heart and I respect the titles. And until I become the world champion again or unify some champions, I don’t really believe I deserve to be on that list. Obviously, I’ve had great fights and I’m the next one that’s going to be on that list. But I don’t want anything given to me. I want to earn it.”
Benavidez’s ambition to challenge Canelo Alvarez for boxing supremacy Despite their differences and Benavidez’s reservations about Alvarez’s career, the Arizona native remains steadfast in his pursuit of boxing glory. Dubbed ‘El Bandera Roja’ (The Red Flag), Benavidez continues to push for a future showdown with Alvarez, aiming to prove his mettle against the sport’s most celebrated figures.
Benavidez said, “He’s not as good as everybody thinks. Because the best one that fought Golovkin that first time was off clenbuterol. That’s the best Canelo I’ve ever seen and that’s why he looked so good coz he was off of clenbuterol.”
As the boxing world awaits a potential clash between these two fiery competitors, Benavidez’s acknowledgment of Alvarez’s greatness adds a layer of respect to their rivalry. Whether this will pave the way for a future bout remains uncertain, but Benavidez’s recognition underscores the profound respect and rivalry that defines the sport at its highest levels.
