David Benavidez’s handlers say undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez is just hurting himself by avoiding the highest contender.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman on Monday advised Boxing Social that Alvarez has been ordered to defend the WBC title towards obligatory challenger Benavidez this yr or he’ll danger shedding the belt. Alvarez is free to battle anybody he desires on Might 4, which presumably means Sulaiman is pondering September for the showdown.
Nevertheless, Sampson Lewkowicz, Benavidez’s promoter, mentioned that he doesn’t count on his shopper to face Alvarez at any time this yr. He and Alvarez’s handlers evidently haven’t had critical negotiations.
“Canelo Alvarez will make his legacy and his legacy shall be stained as a result of he didn’t battle the perfect right now, which is Benavidez,” Lewkowicz advised ProBox TV. “I believe the kids, perhaps the grandchildren sooner or later, will ask him why he didn’t battle Benavidez as a result of [Canelo] says he desires the perfect fights, however that’s the perfect battle.
“Now he says he’s going to battle an American [on May 4]. At one second … it was [Jermall] Charlo. Now we don’t know who the American may be. Now we have an concept of who it may be, however since I’m not concerned in these negotiations, I can’t say who it’s as a result of I don’t know. … I do know that Canelo’s legacy shall be tarnished.”
Lewkowicz went on: “Now if he fights [Benavidez], it doesn’t matter if he wins or loses. The legacy of him goes to be the perfect for me within the historical past of Mexican boxing as a result of he went to battle the perfect, like [Julio Cesar] Chavez did, like Juan Manuel Marquez did, like [Marco Antonio] Barrera did, like so many prime boxers did which have achieved glory.”
Alvarez mentioned final Tuesday that he plans to battle an American on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas however supplied no additional info.
Charlo is rumored to be the main candidate however the 160-pound titleholder has been cagey when making reference to Alvarez, first saying that he hasn’t talked to supervisor Al Haymon since he outpointed Jose Benavidez Jr. (David’s brother) in November after which saying “nothing is official,” which appears to suggest that he’s Alvarez’s selection.
Alvarez dominated out a possible battle with 147-pound champion Terence Crawford due to the load distinction.
The one different viable potential opponent from the US would appear to be unbeaten Edgar Berlanga. The unbeaten New Yorker, who’s scheduled to battle Padraig McCrory on Saturday, hopes to face Alvarez in Might however Alvarez hasn’t indicated he’s within the matchup.
An announcement ought to come quickly: Might 4 is just 2½ months away.
