Canelo Refuses To Vacate, Eyes Benavidez Fight

In a significant development in the world of boxing, Canelo Alvarez has declared his intention, to those close to him, to retain his WBC super middleweight title amidst speculation about his next opponent. This comes as fans and analysts remain skeptical that Alvarez is willing to sign off on a potential showdown with former WBC super middleweight champion and current WBC interim light heavyweight champion, David Benavidez.

ESPN Boxing reporter, Salvador Rodriguez reported that former WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo and WBA #1 ranked super middleweight Edgar Berlanga are potential opponents for Canelo’s next fight. Berlanga (22-0, 17KOs), who once had a meteoric rise with a string of knockouts, has seen his momentum stall with a series of lackluster decision victories against less than stellar opposition. Charlo (33-0, 22KOs), after a 29-month hiatus, returned to the sport with a unanimous decision win over Jose Benavidez Jr. Charlo’s well documented troubles outside the ring, including a DWI arrest in May, led to him being stripped of his WBC middleweight title—a title he had held for five years. Neither a Charlo nor Berlanga fight has generated great interest amongst boxing aficionados.

The fight the people want and have wanted for quite some time is a showdown between Alvarez and Benavidez. Benavidez (29-0, 24KOs) has been vocal about his desire to face Alvarez, publicly accusing Canelo of “holding the belts hostage.” In an interview with Brunch Boxing, Benavidez emphasized, “It’s too big of a fight to leave on the table and Canelo knows that, too.”

This much-anticipated matchup may finally be within reach. The WBC recently announced an extension for Benavidez to determine his weight class of choice, with him being the mandatory and interim champion in both the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. Benavidez has until July 12 to make his decision.

In response to the growing buzz and speculation about his next fight, sources close to Alvarez have confirmed that Canelo has “zero intention” of vacating his WBC super middleweight title. It appears that Canelo is ready to call Benavidez’s bluff, setting the stage for the WBC to order the mandatory title fight once Benavidez’s decision is finalized. Despite dealing with injuries that surfaced after his June 15 bout with Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Benavidez assured fans in May that he would be “100%” ready, willing, and able to fight Canelo in September if the opportunity arises.

The potential Alvarez-Benavidez showdown promises to be one of the most exciting, significant and lucrative bouts in recent memory. It’s a clash of titans that will define the legacies of both fighters.
Both fighters seem to be on a collision course, with July 12 being marked as the next key stop on the road to Canelo vs Benavidez.