David Benavidez may be getting cold feet about being the WBC mandatory for the winner of this month’s rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
On social media today, Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) made an urgent plea to superstar Canelo Alvarez, telling him, “Let’s give the fans what they deserve.” Benavidez is already set to make mega-millions fighting the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 winner, so why does he need Canelo now? This sudden change of targets for Benavidez can only be interpreted one way. He’s afraid.
There’s no other way of looking at this other than to say that Benavidez is having second thoughts about the risky task that he has in front of him against Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.
The Path Of Least Resistance
Fear causes people to take the easy path, which appears to be what we see with Benavidez. He anticipates the pain in fighting for the 175-lb championship, likely seeing himself fail and get knocked out like many of Artur’s past opponents. His callout of Canelo today clearly signals that he wants to be saved from the wolf, Beterbiev, and hopes the Mexican star will help him.
Benavidez’s recent fight against David Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs) last Saturday night on February 1st may have zapped away the self-belief that he had going into that confidence. Morrell did a number on Benavidez’s face, transforming it into a monster-like mask with his hard punches.
The Cuban showed he had far more power, dropping Benavidez in the 11th round and unloading with heavy artillery against the exhausted fighter in the 12th. That fight showed that Benavidez was not ready for the knockout artist Artur Beterbiev, and maybe not even Bivol.
The ‘Mexican Monster’ has a big job in front of him, trying to beat whoever emerges from the light heavyweight championship on February 22nd. Fans believe that Benavidez doesn’t want to fight Beterbiev or Bivol now, knowing that he could lose, and his career would sink after.
“Imagine if Canelo would just agree and fight me already. It’s not about the money; it’s about what the sport needs right now, and we owe it to the fans. It would go down as the best Mexican shootout in boxing history. Let’s give the fans what they deserve. We are 300 percent confident on this side, but I can’t say the same for the other side,” said Benavidez on Instagram.
Benavidez comes across here like he’s begging Canelo to help him, like an old friend who needs him for a pick-me-up. He’s not asking Canelo. He’s begging him, and there can be only one reason. He doesn’t feel up to the task of fighting for the 175-lb championship against the Beterbiev-Bivol winner.
What Benavidez should do is let the WBC know that he doesn’t wish to be mandatory for that fight and give it to Morrell. He’ll gladly tackle the job.
Last Updated on 02/07/2025