Oscar De La Hoya to Canelo: Fight Benavidez, He Won’t Run
- Matthew Brown
- May 5
- 3 min read
05/05/2025
Oscar De La Hoya has once again launched a stinging critique of Canelo Alvarez, the former golden boy he once guided to superstardom, this time zeroing in on what many in the boxing world have called a disappointing and uninspired performance. Canelo’s unanimous decision win over William Scull at Saturday night’s Ring Magazine event drew widespread criticism—not only from fans, but also from fighters and high-profile promoters like De La Hoya himself.
“You’re getting paid all this money to fight against a runner,” De La Hoya said, referring to Scull’s defensive approach. “You chose him and now you say that you hate fighting runners. Well then don’t fight runners. You know who we all want to see you in against. That’s [David] Benavidez! Go up against Benavidez. Fight Benavidez. He won’t run. What’s wrong with that? It’s a good fight. It’s sad. It really is.”
De La Hoya’s comments struck a chord with a growing segment of the boxing public, who are increasingly frustrated with Alvarez’s reluctance to face Benavidez—the unbeaten former super middleweight champion widely regarded as the division’s most dangerous contender. Despite years of anticipation and demand, the fight has yet to materialize.
While both fighters were under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner, Alvarez declined to fight Benavidez. Alvarez has maintained that PBC never formally approached him with an offer to make that fight happen, a claim vehemently denied by Benavidez’s longtime promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. “We were ready,” Lewkowicz has stated repeatedly. “Canelo never wanted the fight. Simple.”
Now operating under the influence and financial might of Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, Alvarez has further options at his disposal. Alalshikh—who recently entered into business with Alvarez—has himself expressed interest in finally delivering the much-anticipated Canelo-Benavidez bout. But even with this powerful new ally, Canelo has resisted all public and private overtures, citing Benavidez’s brash and confrontational demeanor as a reason for his disinterest.
For Benavidez, that excuse doesn’t hold water.
“Imagine if Canelo just agreed and fought me,” Benavidez said recently. “It’s not about the money, it’s about what the sport needs right now. We owe it to the fans. It would undoubtedly go down as the greatest Mexican fight in boxing history. Let’s give the fans what they deserve! We have 300 percent confidence on this side, but I can’t say the same on the other side.”
Benavidez has been unwavering in his pursuit of Alvarez, calling him out relentlessly in interviews and on social media. His aggressive campaign has only fueled fan interest in what many now consider to be the most important fight left to make in boxing.
Instead, Alvarez appears headed in another direction. Multiple reports indicate that he is set to face Terence Crawford on September 12 in Las Vegas. While a fight with the former undisputed welterweight champion would be historic in its own right, many believe it is more of a spectacle than a necessity—especially with the Benavidez bout still looming large.
Benavidez, for his part, is expected to return to the ring later this summer or early fall. Whether he continues to campaign at light heavyweight or eventually moves up to cruiserweight, the shadow of a Canelo showdown will remain over his career until either man steps into the ring or definitively walks away from the idea.
But De La Hoya isn’t ready to let the conversation die.
“Canelo’s legacy is on the line,” he said bluntly. “You want to prove you’re the best Mexican fighter of your era? Then fight the one guy who’s not going to back down, not going to run, and not going to let you coast to a decision. Fight Benavidez. That’s the fight boxing needs. Period.”
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