After the announcement that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has signed a three fight deal with PBC, a match up with David Benavidez appears to be an inevitability at some point over the next 18 months.
However, Canelo’s first outing of the three looks set to be against WBC middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo, who will step up to 168lbs for the first time for a shot at the Mexican’s four world titles.
And in a recent interview with FightHype, Benavidez blasted Canelo’s apparent decision to take on Charlo instead of himself, claiming the pound for pound star doesn’t want the fight.
“You got a deal on the table for $45 million, and nobody replies? I don’t know what else to say, he [Canelo] doesn’t want to fight me.
He’d rather negotiate with someone who hasn’t fought in two years. No disrespect to Charlo, but he’s going to have ring rust.
I don’t know what’s going on. Right now, I’m just trying to do my job, train as hard as I can, and make the biggest fights possible.
Everybody wants to see the fight, I think the walls are kind of closing in on him.”
There have been widespread calls for Canelo to take on WBC interim super middleweight champion Benavidez following his career best win over Caleb Plant earlier this year.
Though after the collapse in talks for a rematch between ‘Canelo’ and Dmitriy Bivol, Charlo emerged as one of two names in the running for the fight, alongside WBC cruiserweight world champion Badou Jack.
Jack took to social media to voice his discontent at Alvarez’ teams insistence on both the contest taking place at a catchweight, as well as a rehydration clause being imposed upon the Swede and discussions quickly came to a halt.